La Luz Trail Run - Race Details

The La Luz Trail Run is a 9 mile trail run that starts near the intersection of Tramway Road and Forest Service road 333, the road to the Juan Tabo Picnic Grounds, in the far northeast heights of Albuquerque, NM. The race consists of 1.8 miles of paved road and 7.2 miles of dirt single track trail with a 12% grade. The race finishes at the Sandia Crest (10,678 feet) near the gift shop located by the radio and TV towers on the crest. There is a strict 400 runner limit imposed on the race by the U.S. Forest Service. In fall issue of 2001 Trail Runner Magazine, La Luz was selected as one of the "12 Most Grueling Trail Races in North America".

WARNING: THE LA LUZ TRAIL IS A STEEP NARROW MOUNTAIN TRAIL WITH A MAXIMUM ELEVATION OF 10,678 feet. NO MEDICAL AID WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE COURSE. IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS ON THE COURSE, CONTACT AID STATION PERSONNEL OR HAM RADIO OPERATORS STATIONED ALONG THE COURSE. THE COURSE IS A CONTINUOUS UPHILL CLIMB, WITH ABOUT A QUARTER TO HALF MILE DOWNHILL SECTION AT MILE 6.3. THE FIRST 1.8 MILES IS ON A STEEP NARROW PAVED ROAD LEADING TO THE TRAILHEAD. THE TRAIL IS A MAINTAINED SINGLE TRACK DIRT TRAIL WITH A VERY ROCKY SECTION IN THE UPPER PART OF THE TRAIL (KNOWN AS THE ROCKSLIDE) AND CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN IN WATCHING WHERE YOU STEP AND LIFTING YOUR FEET TO PREVENT TRIPS AND FALLS. PLEASE STAY ON THE MAIN TRAIL. TRAIL CUTTING CAN INCREASE EROSION ON THE TRAIL. ENJOY THE VIEWS AND BE CAREFUL.

Accommodations: There are many hotels in the Albuquerque area. All are within about 30 minutes of the La Luz Trail Run starting line.

PARKING: Please do not park on Forest Road 333. Please park on the wide shoulder on either side of Tramway Road near the turnoff onto Forest Road 333. Forest Road 333 is located near the north end of the Sandia Mountains, where Tramway makes a sharp bend near the mountains. It can be accessed from either I-40 or I-25.

From I-25: Exit at Tramway exit and go east (toward the mountains). Forest Road 333 will be the first left turn (after you get past the Sandia Pueblo Casino property). It will be approximately 4 miles from I-25 to Forest Road 333.

From I-40: Exit at the Tramway/Central exit near the entrance to Tijeras Canyon. Take Tramway Road north past the Sandia Peak Tramway turnoff and stay on Tramway Road until it starts to curve to the West and you will see the sign for Forest Road 333 - it will also say "Juan Tabo Picnic Ground". There is no fee for parking along Tramway Road.

Parking is limited at the top paved parking lot and the Forest Service requires anyone parking to obtain a $3.00 per vehicle daily parking pass. These passes are available on a self-service basis at the parking lot. If the parking lot is full at the top, it will be necessary to park along the access road that leads to the Sandia Crest. There is a gift shop near the finish line and also a Forest Service visitor center adjacent to the gift shop.

RESTROOMS: Porta-potties will be available at the Start Line. There are also permanent pit toilets at the Trailhead (1.8 miles into the course) and at the Finish Line.

COURSE LENGTH: Based on new Global Position Sensing (GPS) measurements of the La Luz Trail by the Forest Service, it has been determined that the length of the trail from the Trailhead to the Finish Line is 7.2 miles. With the addition of the 1.8 miles of paved road at the bottom, the length of the course is 9.0 miles. The course is the same length that it has been for many years. For your information, here are some split lengths (as determined by these new GPS measurements):

We would also advise runners to carry their own water, if you have equipment to carry water while you run.

CLOTHES BAGS: If you would like to leave any clothing at the Start Line, please place it in the plastic bag that you received at race packet pickup. This bag will have your race number written on it. Please leave the bag with any clothes that you would like take to the Finish Line with the Start Line Officials. They will transport the bags to the top and you can retrieve them after the finish of the race.

T-SHIRT DISTRIBUTION: T-shirts will only be distributed at the Finish Line to Official Finishers. Your race number will be required to pick-up your Finisher's T-shirt.

RETURNING TO THE START LINE: This is a point to point race. To drive from the Start Line to the Finish Line: proceed south on Tramway Road until you get to Interstate 40, get on I-40 eastbound and proceed through Tijeras Canyon, exit at Highway 14 and follow the signs to northbound 14, stay on 14 through the small mountain community of Cedar Crest until you see the turn-off to the Sandia Crest (you will be turning left - there is a left turn bay), and continue on this scenic mountain road until you reach the parking lot at the top (you will be adjacent to a fenced area containing numerous communication towers). Park in the lot (a $3.00 per car Forest Service visitor fee will be assessed - see instructions in the lot) and proceed to the upper Trailhead located just to the south of the Visitor Center at the very crest of the Sandia Mountains (elevation 10,678 feet). The drive to the top from the Start Line could take 50 minutes to an hour to traverse. There is also limited parking at the top, so if you can car pool that would be appreciated.

Since this is a point to point race, you will have several options to get back to the Start Line:

Have a friend or relative drop you off at the Start Line, and they can then drive around to the Finish Line and pick you up. This would be the most preferable method.

Drive yourself to the Start Line and park along Tramway Road (there is a wide shoulder on both sides that can be used for parking). There will be no parking allowed on the road leading to the lower Trailhead. Run the race and then take the Sandia Peak Tramway down. This is the world's longest aerial tram. The only drawback to this method is that the top of the tram is 1.5 miles from the finish of the race and can be accessed by running or walking this distance (relatively flat across the top of the Sandia Mountains). The cost of a one-way ride on the Tram is $9.00. If you plan on using this approach, please carry the required fee with you during the race. You will also have a one or two mile walk or jog from the bottom tram station to where you parked your vehicle. You could also park at the lower tram lot and walk or run to the start of the race, as part of your pre-race warm-up.

Drive yourself to the Start Line and park along Tramway Road (there is a wide shoulder on both sides that can be used for parking). There will be no parking allowed on the road leading to the lower Trailhead. Contact one of the race officials at the Finish Line and tell them that you need a ride back to the Start Line. We will make announcements after the race and try to match runners needing a ride with drivers that have room to take one more person back to the Start Line.

Drive yourself to the Start Line and park along Tramway Road (there is a wide shoulder on both sides that can be used for parking). There will be no parking allowed on the road leading to the lower Trailhead. After the race is over, run or walk back down the trail to the Start Line. This is the approach to use if you are one of those macho mountain ultra runners or if you just need some more miles for your training log.

ONE FINAL NOTE: THE ALBUQUERQUE ROAD RUNNERS CLUB HAS SPONSORED THE LA LUZ TRAIL RUN SINCE THE 1999 VERSION OF THE RACE. IT IS OUR GOAL TO IMPROVE THE RUN EACH YEAR. THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW ORGANIZED RACES IN THE U.S. THAT IS PERMITTED IN A WILDERNESS AREA - THERE IS LEGISLATION ALLOWING THE RACE TO PROCEED FORWARD, BUT WITH A CAP OF 400 RUNNERS.

THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING THIS RACE AND OUR CLUB. THE ALBUQUERQUE ROAD RUNNERS IS A ROAD RUNNERS CLUB OF AMERICA (RRCA) AFFILIATE CLUB AND WE WERE THE HOST OF THE 2001 NATIONAL CONVENTION OF RRCA IN ALBUQUERQUE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE HELPED TO MAKE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE.