Arrowhead Ranch: Top of the World Sandia Mountains Ride

I love riding in the Sandia Mountains. I am so lucky that I can be at a mountain trail head in about a 20-30 minute drive from my house. The mountains are literally in my backyard and I can enjoy a day ride anytime I want.
One of my favorite rides is usually a bucket list type of ride for most horseback riders. Yet, I have ridden my horse on this route more times than I can count on both hands.
Yet it never gets old. Never.

I call it the Top of the World Ride and it includes a loop ride up to Sandia Crest, above 10,678 ft elevation, with breathtaking views and a detour out to the impressive stone, hand-built Kiwanis Cabin.

My dear friend Dana had never done this ride before and asked me if I would lead her and her horse and show her the trails to get up to Sandia Crest. Of course, I said yes!

But I decided to map out a different route using a couple of other trails, instead of following my usual 10K to the Crest Trail route.

So, I met Dana at the 10K parking lot and we saddled up and got out onto the trails.

Then we rode another trail.

This beautiful trail travels through many aspen groves, which makes this a stunningly beautiful ride in Fall.

My trail selfie!

This trail is very hilly with a lot of rocky sections.

Some of the hills are quite steep, but nothing a good trail horse can't handle.

The beautiful green meadows beside the trail are wonderful photo opportunities.
Apache and I taking a moment for a photo...and a munch of grass.

When we reached the intersection, we turned and rode up towards the Crest.
When we reached the Crest, we tied up our ponies to enjoy a relaxing lunch break.

A gorgeous lunch spot with amazing views!

This is how I do a trail ride lunch!
Oh man! Life is Good!

After lunch we mounted up and took a few photos from our lunch spot.
Apache and I have stood in this same spot many times over the years.

And then we continued riding along the Crest Trail, stopping to admire the views looking down on Devil's Thumb.

Near the Devil's Thumb, I took a little detour to another favorite view spot of mine, so I could get a trail selfie of Apache and I looking out over the city of Albuquerque.

My friend Dana is so great! She took this cool photo of Apache and I standing in the same spot as my trail selfie above!

And of course, a Between the Ears photo from the same vantage point!

From where we stood, we could also see the radio towers up on Sandia Crest. Incredibly, that's where we were riding to!

So, back into the forest we went, riding the Sandia Crest Trail.

When we reached the radio towers, we rode beneath the Crest House and across the parking lot.
My friend Dana and her mare, posing on the heli-pad.

We continued past the Sandia Crest parking area towards Kiwanis Cabin. When we arrived at the cabin, Apache and I stopped to enjoy the views of Sandia Peak.
Just to the right of my hat in the photo below, if you look closely, you can see the Sandia Peak Tramway station.

After enjoying the breathtaking views, we rode over to the Kiwanis Cabin.

There was a boy standing up on top of the cabin. Not cool. There are signs specifically warning against standing on the roof because earlier this summer, a woman who was also a mother of small children, climbed up there and fell to her death.

But there aren't any rules against going inside of the cabin, for anyone, including horseback riders.
So, in we went.

The entrance is a little low. Good thing I have a short horse.

Once you're inside, you have to watch out for the ceiling vigas and ride between them.

And this is what the view looks like from inside Kiwanis on a horse's back.

Apache and I have stood in this same spot countless times over the years. I consider ourselves very blessed to have such amazing opportunities like this!

Getting to do this makes me feel alive! It's such a thrill and so exhilarating!
I am so blessed to have the most amazing horse in the entire world! We have shared many wonderful adventures together.

And thankfully, there were some hikers up at Kiwanis Cabin that offered to take a photo of Dana and I on horseback!
I'm so thankful for this wonderful photo of the four of us.

Behind Apache and I is the Sandia Crest and Crest House...and that heli-pad that I took a photo of Dana and her mare earlier.

A trail selfie of Apache and I with the city of Albuquerque far below us!

After enjoying the views and taking tons of great photos up at Kiwanis Cabin, we made our way back down the mountain towards the 10K trail head.

The trails are so gorgeous! So green and thickly forested. Hard to believe at times that we're riding in New Mexico. It feels more like Colorado.

Dana and I feel the same way about riding in the Sandias...we love it! And we can't get enough!

Good thing we live so close.

But it's ironic how it feels like you're far away from civilization when you're up there.

The way that the sunlight filters through the leaves of the aspens makes my heart sing!

We ride alongside, yet above, the Sandia Scenic Byway. The views out towards the north and east are just as breathtaking as the views up at the Crest.

Dana and her mare enjoying the views towards the east as we make our way down the mountain.

Apache and I stopped in a grove of beautiful aspens for a photo opportunity.

We're almost at the trail head and parking area. I can see the 10K restrooms up ahead.

And there we are, down below.
My rig is behind Dana's rig. When we arrived in the morning, the parking lot had cars parked in the spots in front of us. Thankfully, most cars seem to park in the lot down below nearest to the restrooms.