August 7, 2026
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The Sandia Mountains are the backbone of the Albuquerque landscape and the namesake mountain range of the Sandia Pueblo. In modern times, the Sandia Mountains provide members of the Sandia Pueblo unlimited access for traditional activities, as well as area residents and visitors—climbers, hikers, birders, and other nature lovers—access to longstanding recreation opportunities. For local and national rock climbers, the Sandia Mountains are a world-class climbing area where profound wilderness experiences teach tenacity, self-reliance, and humility. NMCRAG and Access Fund support the 2003 T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area Act that protects approximately 10,000 acres on the northwest end of the Sandias.
Our days as climbers in the Sandias often start before dawn with long, cold approaches, dropping into steep canyons to access sweeping red granite walls high above the valley below. Many times, we end our days walking out in the dark, tired and deeply content. We are committed to protecting the integrity of the environment in addition to sustainable recreation access to the Sandia Mountain Wilderness, because cultural resources and natural ecosystems are intrinsic elements of the climbing experience.
The bipartisan 2003 Act codified a collaborative management structure between the US Forest Service (USFS) and the Sandia Pueblo, and permanently resolved a 20-year land dispute filed by Sandia Pueblo. As part of the Act, the Sandia Pueblo agreed to permanently relinquish any claims to the land in the T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area. The Act recognizes and protects in perpetuity:
The rights and interests of the Sandia Pueblo in and to the area
The national forest and wilderness character of the area
The longstanding public use and enjoyment of the area
Recently, the Sandia Pueblo expressed legitimate concerns regarding USFS management of the T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area. Consequently, they proposed legislation to alter the 2003 agreement so that Sandia Pueblo has sole authority to manage the Trust Area. The proposal would restrict access to only the La Luz, Piedra Lisa, and Tram trails and eliminate a wide range of existing dispersed recreation uses, including rock climbing, which was identified as appropriate under the 2003 Act. NMCRAG and Access Fund believe that the Sandia Pueblo proposed bill is premature and unnecessarily far reaching. In 2003, the Sandia Pueblo agreed to a clear legal framework for resolving management issues and protecting cultural resources. The effects of their proposed change to the 2003 agreement would result in measurable harm to most every user group who currently benefit from legal access to the T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area.
N.M. Senator Heinrich recognized these concerns in a July 30, 2026, statement:
We have a responsibility to carefully consider the best path forward for the Sandia Mountains and the many other New Mexicans who cherish and responsibly use these lands. I strongly support strengthening the Pueblo’s co-stewardship with the Forest Service. But what I do not support is transferring title away from the Forest Service or eliminating this area’s wilderness protections.
We agree with Senator Heinrich that the T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area should remain public under USFS management and fully protected as federal Wilderness. We support the appropriation of additional resources to USFS so the agency can improve their co-management and stewardship of the Trust Area. NMCRAG and Access Fund are committed to an open dialogue and collaboration with the Sandia Pueblo and USFS for equitable management of the T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area, balancing conservation, recreational access, and the interests of our broader community.
