a fault block range, on the eastern edge of the Rio Grande rift Valley. The Sandias were uplifted in the last ten million years as part of the formation of the Rio Grande rift. They form the eastern boundary of the Albuquerque Basin. The tilting of the block is most obvious from the Crest since it slopes down gently to the east and drops of dramatically to the west. The Crest consists mainly of an outcrop of limestone overlaying the Sandia granite, with a radiometric age of 300±12 Ma. Ecology Sandia Crest is located in the Cibola National Forest's Sandia Ranger District. Hudsonian Life Zone coniferous forest dominates the flora present at the Crest. Tree species present on the crest include Engelmann spruce, white fir, and ponderosa pine. Fauna that frequent the crest include elk, mule deer, New Mexico black bears, raccoons, ring-tailed cats, bobcats, and various species of squirrel. Birds present include bald eagles, Steller's jays, pinyon jays, various finches, and canyon wrens Climbing Sandia Crest is a popular rock climbing destination. Named climbing structures include the Shield, the Needle, and the Thumb. See also List of mountain peaks of New Mexico Sandia Mountains Manzano Mountains References External links Landforms of Bernalillo County, New Mexico Mountains of New Mexico Religious places of the indigenous peoples of North America Landforms of Sandoval County, New Mexico Hiking trails in New Mexico Mountains of Bernalillo County, New Mexico Mountains of Cibola County, New Mexico