USFS-managed limestone cave high on the Las Huertas Canyon cliffs of the northern Sandia Mountains. A short, steep 0.47-mile trail leads to concrete and metal stairs into the cave mouth—site of famous 1930s–40s UNM excavations that recovered Paleoindian stone tools and Ice Age fauna (including mastodon remains). Daylight visits only; notable geology and archaeological context on public forest land.
Field facts
| Region | Sandoval County, NM |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35.2547, -106.4061 |
| Agency | USFS Cibola NF — Sandia RD (Trail 72) |
| Hike | 0.47 mi one-way to cave mouth |
| Era | Excavated 1937–1941 (UNM) |
| Nearby | Placitas / NM-165 |
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