What was supposed to be a routine drive up into the Sandia Mountains will turn into a detour starting Monday: the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands reported Wednesday that National Forest Road 462, along with the Coyote Trailhead and Chamisoso Trailhead parking areas, will be closed to the public beginning November 9, 2026 at 7 a.m.
The closure, issued under Order #03-03-05-26-24 on the Sandia Ranger District in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, exists for one reason — there is no safe way around the construction zone. Crews will spend roughly a month replacing and removing aging culverts, cleaning and armoring ditches, regrading the road surface, laying new aggregate, and installing 90 feet of guardrail along the stretch running from the heliport on NFR 462A downhill to NM-337.
A Month of Work, Weather Permitting
The Forest Service set the order to remain in effect until December 11, 2026, or until it is rescinded earlier, and cautioned that work schedules may shift with the weather. The stated purpose is to protect public health and safety during construction, but the longer-term payoff is a road that sheds water properly: the improvements are meant to reduce erosion, improve drainage, and deliver a safer, smoother surface for visitors and emergency access alike.
For hikers and hunters who rely on those two trailheads, the practical instruction is simple — plan to use alternate trailheads during the closure.
Who Can Still Get Through
The order is not absolute. Three categories of people are exempt: anyone holding Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48, which covers use of roads, trails, or areas restricted by regulation or order; any federal, state, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting resource, performing official duties; and landowners crossing National Forest System lands to reach their private property. Everyone else is prohibited from entering the described area or being on the road at all.
A violation is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor — a fine of up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, imprisonment for up to six months, or both, under 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
Road Closure Details and Contact Information Provided
The official order is posted on the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands alerts page at fs.usda.gov, and anyone with questions can reach the Sandia Ranger District in Tijeras, NM at #505-281-3304. Between November 9 and December 11, National Forest Road 462 is closed for construction — and work schedules may shift due to weather.
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