DOC LONG PICNIC AREA - Cedar Crest, NM
Doc Long Picnic Area, located at 7562 Sandia Crest Rd in Cedar Crest, NM, is a fantastic dog park in New Mexico offering pet-friendly trails and spacious picnic areas perfect for families and large groups. This dog-friendly park features wheelchair accessible entrances and parking, making it inclusive for all visitors. The park is nestled in the beautiful Cibola National Forest, providing a scenic backdrop with abundant wildlife and native plants, ideal for dog owners who enjoy hiking and outdoor activities with their pets.
Visitors to this dog park in Cedar Crest can enjoy covered picnic areas, clean restrooms, and access to multiple trails suitable for dog-friendly hiking and cross-country skiing. The park is popular among bird watchers and nature lovers, with informative signs about local bird species. A small parking fee applies, and reservations are recommended for large gatherings. Whether you’re planning a picnic, a hike, or a day of exploring with your dog, Doc Long Picnic Area offers a welcoming and well-maintained environment for pet owners and their furry friends.
FAQ for DOC LONG PICNIC AREA in Cedar Crest New Mexico:
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? Yes, the park has a wheelchair accessible entrance and a wheelchair accessible parking lot.
- Are restrooms available for owners? Yes, there are clean pit toilets available at the picnic area.
- Is there a fee or membership required to enter? Yes, there is a small fee of $3.00 per car to park if you do not have a Coronado National Forest pass.
- Are picnics or BBQs allowed? Yes, the park offers covered picnic areas that can be reserved, and it is a popular spot for picnics and large gatherings.
- Are walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, there are several trailheads and access points for hiking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing near the picnic area.
- Is the park regularly cleaned and maintained? Yes, forest volunteers regularly work to maintain and clean the area.
- Are there benches or seating areas for owners? Yes, there are covered picnic areas which provide seating for visitors.
- Where is the best place to park? There is a decent size parking area available at the park for visitors.
- Are there staff or rangers present at the park? Yes, forest volunteers are often present to maintain the area.
Reviews
Love this place! Great for large parties. You have to reserve the large picnic areas and if you dont have a corolla national forest pass, its NULL cash per car.
The Doc Long Picnic Area in the Cibola National Forest has covered picnic areas, clean pit toilets, trailheads and/or access points for several trails, and a decent size parking area. We had a picnic lunch here after spending 2 1/2 hours on the beautiful trails.Kudos to the Forest Volunteers who were working on site to maintain this area if the Forest!
View at the top of Sandia Crest and picnic with the family. Was a beautiful day
We had a picnic at this place on memorial day 2025. Reserved the AREB, spacious for picnic. We were 30 people and we had a great time.
I recently attended a meeting and our group reserved one of the covered picnic areas which was great. I’ve been to this area in the national forest many times over the years for picnics/ meetings, hiking, cross country skiing and snow shoeing. This is beautiful wooded area with many trails close to the bottom of the mountain with lots of birds and popular with birders. There are 2 beautiful information signs about birds in the area provided by Bird Alliance of Central New Mexico (National Audubon sub group). Wildlife like deer, rabbits, squirrels, bobcats, coyotes, cougars and black bears also inhabit this area in the Sandia Mountains. An abundance of wild flowers and native plant species thrive here. There is a small fee of 3.00 to park your car. There are bathrooms- very clean in the area as well – water is not provided, but there is water in some of the streams (need to filter to safety drink. Bring water, food, sunscreen and appropriate clothing if you plan to spend time on the trails or even if you want to drive on the paved road all the way up to the mountain top for spectacular vistas at almost 11,000 feet.