Balsam Glade Picnic Site in NM -- Campground & RV Camping in New Mexico
Balsam Glade Picnic Site in NM
U.S. Forest Service allows overnight stays only at the designated sites here.
Balsam Glade Picnic Site is a day-use area at 8,650 feet on the Sandia Crest Scenic Byway, adjacent to La Madera Canyon Overlook. The site features a covered CCC-style shelter accommodating up to 30 people, unreserved individual picnic tables with grills, and accessible vault toilets. A short 0.3-mile nature trail leads to a canyon observation deck overlooking South Mountain. Note that drinking water is not provided, parking passes must be picked up beforehand, and overnight camping is not allowed.
The road in has not been measured -- unknown, not bad. Flat ground is scarce -- under a tenth of the terrain within a few hundred yards is level.
Sandia Mountains stands 1,946 ft above the site, 2.2 miles west. Exposed here -- the nearest through road is 0.1 miles off. Night skies measure Bortle 4 -- a rural sky with a glow on the horizon. A reservoir lies 0.4 mi off. The nearest town, Sandia Heights, is 5.3 mi off.
September normals 46–72°F, 2.2″ rain. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.
Set by U.S. Forest Service. Stage 1 and 2 orders change within days -- check the current order before you build a fire.
fs.usda.gov