The Sandia Peak Tramway rises from the desert floor at the eastern edge of Albuquerque to the crest of the Sandia Mountains in about 15 minutes — a vertical gain of 1,275 metres in a single cable span. The views from the top are genuinely extraordinary: on a clear day you can see from Arizona to Texas, the Rio Grande snaking through cottonwood bosque far below, and the city spread across the valley like a circuit board. The summit at 3,255 metres is cool even in summer and often snowy in winter.
At the top, the restaurant serves lunch and dinner, and there are hiking trails along the crest. The popular La Luz Trail descends the western face back to the base, a serious hike if you want to make a day of it. The tram runs year-round; the most spectacular views come in autumn when the Sandia's aspens turn gold and after winter storms when the mountains are white above the desert. Expect a wait on weekends and in October.