Updated July 2026
Travertine Falls
Travertine Falls is a seasonal waterfall on the South Crest Trail #130 in the Sandia Mountains, reached by a roughly half-mile walk from the Canyon Estates trailhead near Tijeras. The falls feature travertine rock and two small caves and flow best in spring.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Cibola National Forest (Sandia Ranger District) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
No measured height is on record for Travertine Falls in the land-manager and survey sources this inventory draws on. We list it without a height rather than estimating one.
The South Crest Trail #130 (from Canyon Estates) reaches it about 1 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 260 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Tijeras. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Cibola National Forest (Sandia Ranger District) for closures and current conditions.
Spring (snowmelt) when flow is highest. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More New Mexico waterfalls
- Bluff Springs Waterfall
- Bridal Veil Falls · 45 ft
- Catwalk Falls (Whitewater Canyon)
- El Salto del Agua Falls
- Jemez Falls · 70 ft
- Nambe Falls · 100 ft
- Rio en Medio Falls · 20 ft
- Sitting Bull Falls · 150 ft
Sources
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