Access Forest Road 488 from the upper parking area at the gate.

Cibola National Forest covers more than 1.6 million acres and includes mountains, grasslands, wilderness, and forests. The name Cibola comes from the Zuni word for their tribal lands, which the Spanish later translated as "buffalo". The forest is home black bears, cougars, elk, and pronghorn. Cibola National Forest offers many recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and skiing. It also has cultural and historical significance, as it contains ancient Native American sites and historic trails.

The National Forest has four ranger districts: Sandia, Mountainair, Magdalena, and Mount Taylor. In addition, the Cibola has four wilderness areas: Sandia Mountain, Manzano Mountain, Withington, and Apache Kid.

The Ellis Trail is 2.7 miles long and begins across the road from the lower parking area of Ellis Trailhead. The trail is named for George Ellis who homesteaded Ellis Ranch, in the Sandia Mountains from the 1880s until his death in 1912. Elevation ranges from 9,640 to 10,270 feet for an elevation gain of 630 feet.

The Hiking Project website has a description and map of a hike on the Ellis Trail.