Cibola NF--Cienega Canyon Picnic Area

Cibola NF--Cienega Canyon Picnic Area

Tijeras, New Mexico 87059

Official Website
Cibola National Forest Official Website

About this Location

Beautiful, shady, cool, and green are just a few words that recreationists have used to describe the Cienega Group Picnic area. It is fairly flat, accessible, semi-private, and accommodates up to fifty people. There are grills, bear-proof trash containers, and vault toilets provided, and no shelter other than the surrounding shade trees. A stream, which draws birds and other wildlife, runs through the area.

Take a moment to enjoy the accessible interpretive trail along the nearby stream and meadow that provides a great learning experience in the area.

From Albuquerque, drive east on I-40 to Exit 175 to Cedar Crest. Follow N-14 (The Turquoise Trail) for approximately 6.5 miles, to NM-536 (Sandia Crest Scenic Byway). Turn left onto NM-536 and follow it for about two miles. Turn left at the Cienega and Sulphur Picnic Area sign. Stay to your left and follow the road for about .6 miles to the “T”. Turn right and continue until you reach the gated area to your right.

About Cibola National Forest

See all hotspots at Cibola National Forest

Cibola National Forest covers more than 1.6 million acres and includes mountains, grasslands, wilderness, and forests. The name Cibola comes from the Zuni word for their tribal lands, which the Spanish later translated as "buffalo". The forest is home black bears, cougars, elk, and pronghorn. Cibola National Forest offers many recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and skiing. It also has cultural and historical significance, as it contains ancient Native American sites and historic trails.

The National Forest has four ranger districts: Sandia, Mountainair, Magdalena, and Mount Taylor. In addition, the Cibola has four wilderness areas: Sandia Mountain, Manzano Mountain, Withington, and Apache Kid.

Content from Official Website and Cibola National Forest Official Website