New Mexico / Bernalillo County / Cibola National Forest

Cienega Picnic Site

Closed — Currently closed for the winter season. Reservations are available when open, which is weekdays only. The Sandia Ranger Station operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No overnight camping is permitted.

About

Cienega Picnic Site offers a semi-private, shaded day-use area in the Sandia Mountains of Cibola National Forest. Located approximately half a mile off Highway 536, the site sits at an elevation where a mountain stream creates a wet meadow environment, attracting birds and wildlife. The fairly flat terrain makes it accessible to visitors with limited mobility. The group picnic site accommodates up to 50 people and provides picnic tables, grills, vault toilets, and bear-proof trash receptacles. Natural shade comes from surrounding trees rather than built shelters. An accessible interpretive trail and patio near the trailhead were built in cooperation with the New Mexico Association for the Blind, winding through the meadow and along the stream to provide learning opportunities about the local ecosystem. Beyond the main group site, additional dispersed picnic areas are available first-come, first-served for smaller family groups. The area serves as a trailhead for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails, including routes leading to the mountain crest through fir forests and wildflower meadows. The nearly 10-mile round-trip trail to the crest follows a mountain stream featuring a travertine waterfall in wetter years. This is a popular area for equestrians and mountain bikers exploring the Sandia Mountain Wilderness.

Directions

From Albuquerque, drive east on I-40 to Exit 175. Proceed north on Highway 14 about 7 miles to Highway 536. Turn left onto Highway 536 and continue uphill. Look for signage for Cienega and Sulphur picnic sites on the left. Turn into the shared entrance; Sulphur is immediately to the right, while Cienega's entrance is further up and to the left. Continue approximately 0.5 mile through the woods to the parking area. Turn right at the parking area and look for the gated site with directional signage. Pick up the gate key at Sandia Ranger District office before arrival.

Nearby Campgrounds