Updated  1-4-2019

The 53rd Annual La Luz Trail Run was held on Sunday, August 5, 2018

Click here for results

CLICK HERE for all La Luz 2018 PHOTOS

LA LUZ TRAILHEAD PARKING LOT RECONSTRUCTION

Contractors will begin work on the trailhead parking area starting Oct 22.  The area will be closed (including the trailhead) until work is completed.  There will also be work on the shoulder of the road.  The parking area will be increased from 18 to 42 parking spaces.  There is a connector trail from Juan Tabo Picnic Area that will allow access to the La Luz Trailhead.  Thank you to volunteers from Friends of the Sandia Mountains for their help in building and formalizing this connector trail.  Also, the public may continue to access the La Luz Trail via the Piedra Lisa-La Luz Link Trail (#137C, starting at the Piedra Lisa trailhead).  The parking area reconstruction is scheduled for completion in February, however, weather conditions will be a factor as to the actual completion date. 

LA LUZ TRAIL RUN
General Information

La Luz Trail Run is a nine mile trail race that starts in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque and finishes at Sandia Crest at an altitude of 10,678’ – over 4,000’ of elevation climb.

We use a lottery system to fill the 400 allotted slots in the race. The 400 limit is mandated  by the United States Forest Service (since much of the race is run through National Forest that has been designated as a Wilderness Area).

The lottery process is open during the first week of May on ultrasignup.com. After the lottery has closed, ultrasignup.com will randomly draw all names and compile a list. The first 400 names selected will be entered into the race; they will be notified and will then pay the race entry fee. 

Those not selected in the first 400 will be placed on a waiting list in the same order as their names were randomly drawn. As cancellations are received from the original list of 400 entrants, persons from the waiting list (in order) will then be offered the opportunity to enter the race.

There is no race day registration and no refunds of entry fees – for any reason.

Bib numbers/race entries are NOT TRANSFERABLE.  Finish times for unauthorized runners will be discarded = DQ!

  • The race will start promptly at 7 am sharp!  You must complete the race in 5 hours or less to be an Official Finisher.
  • The registration fee is $45.00 for members of the Albuquerque Road Runner Club and $50.00 for non-members of our club. This fee will be collected by ultrasignup.com at the time of admission into the race.
  • ​Race results will be based on chip timing performed by Specialized Timing 
  • Prizes will be awarded to 1st place overall Male & Female and 1st place overall Master’s Male & Female finishers.
  • Age group awards will be given out in the following age divisions (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place male and female): 01-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, and 75-up.
  • The course consists of 1.8 miles of paved road and 7.2 miles of dirt single track trail with a ~12% grade. All runners must stay on the trail – no shortcuts are permitted.
  • For your safety, please refrain from wearing any electronic devices in your ears or using any other electronic devices and yield to faster runners on the course. No pets or strollers are permitted on the course.
  • Parking is allowed only on the shoulder of Tramway Blvd – no parking will be allowed on Forest Road 333. The starting line is ~0.5 miles up Forest Road 333 from the turnoff from Tramway Road onto Forest Road 333. Allow extra time to get from your car to the Start Line to avoid missing the start. 
  • Porta-Potties will be provided at the start, but will not be available along the rest of the course. There are permanent Forest Service restroom facilities at the finish area.
  •  At the “Y” about 0.5 miles before the finish line, you will turn left on Crest Spur Trail, which will take you to the finish line (there will also be a water aid station at the “Y”).
  • The finish line is on the Crest of the Sandia Mountains – just to the south of the Gift Shop building at the termination of the Crest Highway on top of the mountain.
  • A $3.00 parking fee will be required in the parking lot at the finish line. A National Park pass or Sandia District pass may be displayed to park in the finish line parking lot.
  • T-shirts will be distributed at the Finish Line to Official Finishers. Your race number will be required to pick up your Finisher's T-shirt. 
View a short LA LUZ VIDEO   Click here  
by K Holmes/W Wiggins
_The La Luz Trail Run has been sponsored by the Albuquerque Road Runners Club since 1999. Thank you for your continued support of the race and a big Thank You to all the Club volunteers, Ham Radio Operators, and the Boy Scout Troop that handles the two middle aid stations.

LA LUZ TRAIL
"Best Trail" Winner for 2014, 2015, and 2016!

In the Fall 2001 issue of Trail Runner Magazine, La Luz was selected as one of the "12 Most Grueling Trail Races in North America."
A portion of race proceeds are donated to
Scout Troop #17 for their volunteer efforts at the La Luz Trail Run.
Luz Race Director Rodger Sack presents a check to representatives of Scout Troop 17 at the October 2018 membership meeting.  The scouts  were instrumental in the operation of the middle two aid stations of the race, including transport of umpteen loads of water up the trail, staffing the stations, and removing all trash.

La Luz History

Picture
Finisher Certificate 1967
Picture
Finisher Certificate 1970
La Luz Reminiscence
from Art Meyer - Farmington
​(click on text to enlarge)
History of La Luz Trail Run
by Tom Kirchgessner
Click to read
​ALBUQUERQUE ROAD RUNNERS
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