Palomas Cliff Trail and Peak

Palomas Cliff Trail leads up to Palomas Peak. It is located on the east side of the Sandia mountains off NM Road 165 to Placitas. It is an unofficial trail used by rock climbers. From the view of it, it gets plenty of traffic and is well-maintained. The trail is moderate in difficulty and short, 1.5 miles one-way, and leads to the limestone bands across the peak that you see in the picture above. (Palomas means dove in Spanish for band-tail pigeons resembling the limestone bands. )

Jim hiking along the limestone band. The cliffs created shade and made it a cool place to hike on a hot summer day.

Climber at work.

On our way down from the peak (about 8700 feet).

This was a great hike with exceptional views and the easiest peak I ever climbed! A wonderful half-day getaway from the city.