My niece held her wedding weekend here. The picnic area included the table area and recreation area. On Saturday afternoon here wedding and Sunday morning brunch. Food was self catered by my niece. Aside from the picnic area was a paved and unpaved trail for hiking where there was plenty to see. There are plenty of parking spaces. An enjoyable area for an outdoor event. read more

Elena Gallegos Picnic Area - Volleyball badminton area - Parks Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Really cute area for hiking! There is ample parking and it's only a few dollars. The folks who work in the office at the Picnic Area were very friendly and helpful when I had questions ! read more

Elena Gallegos is definitely one of my go to spots for when I need to leave the city without leaving the city. Especially on these rainy summer nights when the clouds engulf the skyline, it is the perfect escape. Just go breathe in that mountain air! I find no issue with the $1 weekday/$2 weekend day use fee. The parking is abundant and there are public restrooms if necessary. The trails are well maintained but definitely watch out for the cacti because they are everywhere! I love taking my dog but he is a big goof and I have to be extra careful he doesn't walk face first into some serious pain. It is also important to keep an eye out for critters, I personally do not want to come face to face with a snake. One of the best parts of this beautiful public space is that it is one of the best places to watch the sunset. I love going out to get photos of the mountains from this area too! read more

Elena Gallegos Picnic Area - Parks Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Came on a Friday morning around 9AM, parking lot had quite a few cars, $1 parking fee. Did the Pino Trail, although a lot of trails start from here. Saw some people while going up but saw a lot more going up on our way down. Not very steep, good views. Didn't do the entire thing, did a little more than 7 miles (entire Pino Trail is 9 miles). read more

This is BEAUTIFUL and PRISTINE wilderness in the Albuquerque Foothills! BUT - Those who have enjoyed the space should prepare for big change as the City has proposed to build a 5,000 sq ft "Education Center" with a wrap around deck, coffee bar, children's "nature" play area, offices, wifi, landscaped grounds and increased pavement to accommodate the shuttle buses that are proposed to bring people from the satellite parking lot that is to be built in the Pino Arroyo at Tramway / Simms Park Road. There is a movement to hold CABQ accountable to the enforceable Land Use Restrictions that exist! Why do they think they can COMPLETELY IGNORE the restrictive covenants in the deed and purchase agreement! Please join us by registering at www.saveelenagallegos.org and signing the petition you will find there! read more

Elena Gallegos Picnic Area - Clear Land Use Restrictions are not for CABQ to ignore. - Parks Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Finally made it to this place and I'm in love!! Such a beautiful place to stroll, hike, or picnic. I wandered around for about 2 hours and it was a great workout but not too crazy. Beautiful view as you walk up and you get to admire different rock formations, watch the tram go up & down in the distance... kid friendly & doggie friendly. I've only done a few trails so far but I know there a whole lot more to see. Maybe one day I'll get to the top There are paved parking areas and facilities (no running water). Bring plenty of water! read more

Elena Gallegos Picnic Area - Parks Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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This area is a nice picnic area and the Elena Gallegos Open Space is really nice for hiking and biking. The entrance fee before the picnic area is $1 during the week and $2 on the weekends. The main trail is called Trail 365 and is nice for hiking but not great for biking. It's pretty rocking and only good for experienced mountain bikers. The views are amazing on the trail! read more

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It's a nice place to go to look at the mountain in the city from up in the foothills, has picnic tables, and areas where you can have events for your family or even a Wedding. Cost about $2 I think to get in. Very nice views. read more

A pristine protected Open Space....for now. But the city of ABQ is planning to build in the open space despite the land use restrictions that exist in the deed. Help SAVE ELENA GALLEGOS by searching and signing the online petition. read more

This is a wonderful place to hike! I see plenty of mountain bikers and horseback riders as well. There are tons of trails for everyone, and several hiking-only trails if bikes zipping past you isn't your thing. I've hiked several trails this winter on moderate temperature days (~50F) and it has been perfect. The Pino Trail is my favorite! Start on the desert floor and hike your way up to beautiful conifer-laden hills. I almost feel like I'm in the Pacific Northwest! The views of both the city and the mountains are spectacular from pretty much any point on any of the trails. Most of the people I encounter on the trails are very courteous and friendly. Parking is $1 during the week and $2 during the weekend, and an annual pass is available for about $26 if you plan on visiting several times. Well worth it to me! I can't comment on the actual picnic area as I use this park exclusively for the trails. read more

Elena Gallegos Picnic Area - Beautiful day for a hike! - Parks Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Love this space. Great for hiking, biking, getting outdoors. There is a nicely groomed one mile loop for folks who have trouble walking on uneven ground or families with younger children. Pets allowed. Picnic areas, bathrooms and read more

Oh my word, so gorgeous. This place is amazing. There are a wide variety of hikes (I stayed on a very easy trail), all of which I'm sure share amazing views of the Sandia Mountains. I forget how much the fee was, but it was only $1 or $2. Totally undercharging for the views, the space, the nature. I was hoping to see some horseback riders when I went during the week, but no bueno! I went during the middle of the day during the middle of the week, and it was pretty empty - serene. I saw a bunch of parked cars but literally only ran into one woman (and her dog!) on the trail I took. After I took some photos of her and her cute pooch, she let me pose with him too! Viva la ABQ/viva la nature. read more

Elena Gallegos Picnic Area - gorgeous view at the beginning of a trail - Parks Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

This is a nice lil' place to get outdoors in the Northeast Heights, not far from the Tram. Bring a dollar bill or two for admission. Bring some water. Bring some insect repellent if bugs bother you. The entrance road off the east side of Tramway is named Simms Park Road. Think of the great New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms to remember it. I use it for mountain biking in the summer, but I'm sure it's great for picnicking, hiking, and horseback riding as well. Today I took the 366 trail from a parking lot to 365. Relatively leisurely, although some parts have many rocks. Wear a helmet. Great views of downtown, the Three Witches, and Mt. Taylor to the west, and of course the Sandias to the east. read more

Evening hike before sundown is the best time to go, esp since there is not much shade. Plenty of parking, great for dogs and great for biking too. Loved the Sadia mountain range. Spectacular views of Albuquerque. It's an easy hike. read more

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We recently found out that my mom is officially cancer-free, so of course we had a reason to throw a SERIOUS PARTY. I contacted the fine folks at Elena Gallegos Park, and Kim helped me pick out the right space for us (Kiwanis Reservation Area) and set a date. We got the space from 11am-6pm, and it had everything you could want for a BBQ celebration! We had power for the stereo so we could play mom's "Kicked Cancer's Ass" playlist. There were horseshoe pits and a volleyball net that everyone loved, and plenty of shade over the picnic tables. We didn't use the grill but it was there if we wanted it (we brought in a feast from Rudy's). I also really loved the little arena around the fire pit, it would be perfect for s'mores and campfire stories! The park was perfect for our bash and I couldn't be happier with how everything turned out! Next time we have a big family party we'll be back :) read more

This is an Albuquerque treasure! Spending a little bit of time, will give you the sense of escape that will lift your mood and outlook. It's so close and beautifully loved by all who choose to walk here. read more

This is an amazing place to go hiking on a weekend or weekdays. There are a number of different trails to choose from. There are also some great views of the city and the mountains. Want to grab some food and have a picnic there are a number of place to choose from. read more

Actually use this area for pictures more than anything else. Took both family photos and engagement photos here and was SO satisfied with the result! read more

This place has beautiful views of the mountains and the city. There are hikes for everyone, from easy to hard. You can also mountain bike, but I've never done that. I really like the picnic areas. They are shaded and pretty comfortable. There are also restrooms nearby. The picnic areas have grills, but depending on the fire danger, they might advice not using them. THE PARK CLOSES PROMPTLY AT THE HOUR POSTED, so don't risk being late or you might end up being looked in. Not fun! read more

I came here with a group of University of Arizona alums, families, students, and new Wildcats for the summer send off of the new frosh. The picnic area was shaded (very nice that super hot day), and there were plenty of tables for the group. It's in a very scenic area. I had only been mountain biking at Elena Gallegos before and hadn't checked this area out. I'm not sure of the cost to reserve the space if there is one, but it worked really well. read more

A remarkable open space that most city's would love to have. This is at the base of the Sandia's and you can go to the smaller mountain in the middle (between the two peaks). You start from the desert floor to the tree rich section; you are transformed and it only gets more beautiful the further up you go. read more

Great variety of trails for hiking, biking, etc for all ages. Very accessible for those in the NE heights. Awesome views, and love the sunsets from here. read more

We were looking for something nature-y to do on our last morning in town, but didn't want to make a big time commitment. Found this on the map and it was perfect! We did the one mile loop twice, and were out early enough to see some hot air balloons over the city. It was really great to be walking around the sandy terrain and see rocks and cacti and just be that close to the mountains we had been looking at all week. 10/10 would do again! read more