Neighboring Communities: East Mountains

East of Albuquerque lie the mountain communities of Tijeras, Cedar Crest, Sandia Park, Golden, Madrid and Cerrillos. These historic villages are all connected by the Turquoise Trail, a National Scenic Byway. Follow the Turquoise Trail to discover unique treasures like the Tinkertown Museum, a classic roadside attraction featuring Ross Ward’s extraordinary collection of miniature wood-carved figures and wacky western memorabilia. In Cedar Crest you can wander through the Museum of Archaeology and Material Culture and at the Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood, you can see wolves and mountain lions. The communities of the east mountains are also host to many jazz, blues, bluegrass and other musical and artist festivals.

The Sandia Peak Ski Area and offers hiking and mountain biking in the summer and skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing in the winter. The ski area offers 30 trails serviced by four chairlifts, a surface lift and a children's mitey mite. Paa-ko Ridge Golf Club, the Southwest’s only 5-star golf course, is nestled in these pristine mountain surroundings, and there are plenty of opportunities for you to golf and ski in the same day!