We were yearning to put our new snowshoes to work over the weekend, so we joined in on a group hike in the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque. With about a foot of fresh powder and the sun shining, it was a beautiful day to be outdoors, despite the cold.
We started at the Ellis Trail parking lot, just past the 10K Trail parking lot on the left (south) side of the road (https://goo.gl/maps/BNTbX).
From the parking lot, we followed the rolling up-and-down trail about 2 miles, until we hit the junction with the 10K trail. We decided to stay on Ellis Trail, and in a bit over another 1/2 mile, we arrived at the junction with the Osha Loop Trail. We continued on Ellis Trail a bit longer until we reached the North Del Agua Overlook, which had nice views of Albuquerque from above. 
After a brief snack break, we headed back on the same route.
Sunblock, chapstick, warm layers, gloves, and hand warmers are recommended for this winter outing.
Distance: 4.69 miles
Elevation Gain: 827 feet