Albuquerque - American Southwest - page 255

Northeast Cyclery, 8305 Menaul Blvd. NE ( & 505/299-1210 ), rents bikes at the
rate of $25 per day for front-suspension mountain bikes and $35 per day for road bikes.
Multiday discounts are available. Unfortunately, the shop doesn't rent children's bikes.
Rentals come with helmets.
BIRD WATCHING
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge ( & 505/835-1828; www.fws.gov/
southwest/refuges/newmex/bosque/index.html) is a haven for migratory waterfowl such
as snow geese and cranes. It's 90 miles south of Albuquerque on I-25, and it's well worth
the drive. See chapter 11 for more details. Closer to town, check out the Rio Grande
Nature Center State Park ( & 505/344-7240; www.nmparks.com). It spans 270
acres of riverside forest and meadows that include stands of 100-year-old cottonwoods
and a 3-acre pond, attracting some 260 bird species.

255

FISHING
Albuquerque's most notable fishing spot, Tingley Beach ( & 505/768-2000; www.cabq.
gov/biopark/tingley), is stocked weekly with trout, bass, and catfish. It's open daily and
is free. To access Tingley from Rio Grande Boulevard, head west to Tingley Drive (Park-
way) and turn south. Another option is Shady Lakes ( & 505/898-2568 ). Nestled
among cottonwood trees, it's near I-25 on Albuquerque's north side. The most common
catches are rainbow trout, black bass, bluegill, and channel catfish. To reach Shady Lakes,
take I-25 north to the Tramway exit. Follow Tramway Road west for a mile and then go
right on NM 313 for a half-mile. Sandia Lakes Recreational Area ( & 505/897-3971;
www.sandiapueblo.nsn.us), also on NM 313, is another popular fishing spot. There is a
bait and tackle shop there.

GOLF
There are quite a few public courses in the Albuquerque area. The Championship Golf
Course at the University of New Mexico, 3601 University Blvd. SE ( & 505/277-4546;
www.unmgolf.com), is one of the best in the Southwest and was rated one of the coun-
try's top 25 public links by Golf Digest. Desert Greens Golf Course, 10035 Country
Club Lane NW ( & 505/898-7001; www.desertgreens.com), is a popular 18-hole golf
course on the west side of town.
Other Albuquerque courses to check with for tee times are Arroyo del Oso, 7001
Osuna Rd. NE ( & 505/884-7505; www.cabq.gov/golf/arroyo-del-oso); Ladera, 3401
Ladera Dr. NW ( & 505/836-4449 ); Los Altos, 9717 Copper Ave. NE ( & 505/298-
1897; www.cabq.gov/golf/los-altos); Puerto del Sol, 1800 Girard Blvd. SE ( & 505/265-
5636; www.cabq.gov/golf/puerto-del-sol); and Sandia Golf Club ( & 505/798-3990;
www.sandiagolf.com), located at Sandia Resort and Casino on the north end of town.
If you're willing to drive a short distance just outside Albuquerque, you can play at the
Santa Ana Golf Club at Santa Ana Pueblo, 288 Prairie Star Rd., Bernalillo, NM 87004
( & 505/867-9464; www.santaanagolf.com), which was rated by the New York Times as
one of the best public golf courses in the country. Club rentals are available (call for
information). In addition, Isleta Pueblo, 4001 Hwy. 47 ( & 505/869-0950; www.isle
tapueblo.com), south of Albuquerque, has an 18-hole course.

9

HIKING
The 1 1 / 2 -million-acre Cíbola National Forest offers ample hiking opportunities. Within
town, the best hike is the Embudito Trail, which heads up into the foothills, with