Sandia Crest runs to the east of Albuquerque, culminating in Sandia Peak at an altitude of 10 210ft. As the cable-car ascends, visitors can admire the contrast between the semi-desert landscape of the valley and the succession of wooded canyons that follow. At the summit, more than 21mi of footpaths and mountain-biking trails allow visitors to explore the area's rich flora and fauna (brown bears, lynx, racoons, stags, eagles etc). The area is popular with skiers in winter.