Go left onto trail 342. After about 2 minutes on trail 230 you will enter the Sandia Wilderness area through a pass-through in the fence. That all said, my son, who has just finished middle school and is an active Boy Scout (Troop 142) and I decided to hike to the wreckage site via the Domingo Baca trail which we did last October (the Monday after the '09 Balloon Fiesta had ended). Follow signs to stay on the Domingo Baca trail. 2 reviews of TWA Plane Crash Hiking Trail "I hiked the TWA trail for the first time yesterday, and it was a killer! The trail leading from Elena Gallegos Picnic Area up through Domingo Baca Canyon is the first backpacking trip I ever took my scouts on, and it is a continual favorite. The trailhead is located at Elena Gallegos Picnic Area. The second group, 2 adult men, was lost near the TWA plane crash site, possibly in Domingo Baca Canyon. Trail 230A then intersects with the Domingo Baca Trail. Domingo Baca Trail / TWA Flight 260 crash site Hiking Trail, Sandia Heights, New Mexico. Trail 342 heading northeast will intersect with Trail 230A. The Domingo Baca Trail terrain is primarily open desert with no tree coverage. That all said, my son, who has just finished middle school and is an active Boy Scout (Troop 142) and I decided to hike to the wreckage site via the Domingo Baca trail which we did last October (the Monday after the '09 Balloon Fiesta had ended). It was a pretty tough hike, however, the fall weather helped. The 3.5-mile trail to the site is a moderate-to-strenuous climb through the Cibola National Forest. It begins in Albuquerque’s Elena Gallegos Open Space – from the parking lot head towards the Domingo Baca Trail via trails 141, 342, 230a, and 230. This hike, to the crash site of a TWA airliner, is one of the ‘go to’ hikes in the Sandia Mountains. ... there is a wonderful bit of history and physical challenge in the hike up to the site of a 1955 TWA plane crash. The third and fourth image show the location of trail 230A. The hike winds you through Domingo Baca Canyon in the Sandias and ends up right below The Tram line at the crash sight of TWA flight 260, which crashed on February 19, 1955. The trail passes through the Sandia Mountain Wilderness and the debris field of the doomed airplane, permitting you to explore the wreckage. ... take the Domingo Baca/TWA Canyon trail up the mountain. Once you step on the Domingo Baca Trail you have officially left the Open Space and have entered Wilderness Area. From the Elena Gallegos picnic area, it's about 5 miles round trip with 2,500 feet of elevation gain. It was a pretty tough hike, however, the fall weather helped. A steep climb into the Sandia Mountains leads to the 1955 crash site of a TWA airliner. SAR 1 set out from the upper tram house in attempt to gain access to the La Luz trail. From the parking lot, take trail 230A up to trail 230, and trail 230 will lead you to the gate where the Domingo Baca trailhead is located. Getting to the site is challenging and steep with a lot of loose soil and rocks, but it is definitely possible. Start on trail 140 (Pino Trail) Take this trail Northeast to trail 342. To locate trail 230A at the parking area, see the first four images in the slideshow, below. APD SAR gathered information, developed a plan of action and deployed two separate teams based on the life-threatening circumstances for both parties. This makes for one of the most unique Albuquerque hiking trails. Location: The Domingo Baca trail is within Cibola National Forest. About 12 minutes later you will end up on trail 230. The Domingo Baca Trail is a fantastic, challenging hike located close to Sandia Park, ... you can track down the wreckage of the 1955 TWA plane crash that occurred there.