The Los Alamos Way: Where Minds and Trails Meet

Need to stretch your legs?

In Los Alamos, the question isn’t if you should go for a hike, but which mesa, canyon, or mountain trail you’ll explore today. Whether you are a scientist, a traveler, or a dreamer, our mesas and canyons offer a rare kind of utility.

At 7,320 feet, our community is defined by a landscape unlike anywhere else on Earth. Built on the narrow "finger" mesas separated by deep, dramatic canyons, Los Alamos offers a "High Tech, High Trek" lifestyle. Here, world-changing science happens just steps away from hundreds of miles of interconnected trails across six trail systems.

Welcome to pajaritotrails.us—the starting place to find out everything that is happening outdoors in the Los Alamos area. Let’s find your path.

If you’re here for just a short time and not seeking hardcore adventure, Los Alamos offers the rare luxury of a "stroll through history with a mountain view." You don’t need a pack or a plan to enjoy the high country here; stunning vistas are accessible via level, paved paths and gentle forest boardwalks that start right in the heart of town.

For those who define "vacation" by the grit in their boots and the vert in their lungs, Los Alamos is your high-altitude proving ground. This isn't a manicured park; it is a rugged masterpiece of volcanic geology, where miles of technical singletrack and primitive canyon routes challenge even the most seasoned explorers.

Ready to push your limits? Your digital trailhead at pajaritotrails.us has the coordinates. The rest is up to you.

The "Los Alamos Sampler": 3 Featured Routes

All three of these routes can start and end at the Los Alamos Visitor Center. Links to interactive Google Maps are in the descriptions below.

1. The Core Loop

View Map: The Core Loop Route

Vibe: The Historic Heart
Distance: 0.7 miles | Difficulty: Easy
The Experience: Perfect for a quick introduction to the "Secret City." Circles the historic core where history was made.
Along the Way: Historic District, Fuller Lodge, Bathtub Row, ancestral pueblo site, dining, beer garden, and Ashley Pond Park.
Interactive Google Map

2. The Mesa Loop

View Map: The Mesa Loop

Vibe: History, Forest, and Nature Views
Distance: 1.4 miles | Difficulty: Easy
The Experience: Ascend the elevated forest boardwalk for an "in-the-trees" perspective.
Along the Way: Elevated forest boardwalk, Nature Center with scenic views, and Demo Garden.
Interactive Google Map

3. The Pedestrian Core Route

View Map: The Pedestrian Core Route

Vibe: Science, Commerce, and Canyon Views
Distance: 1.1 miles | Difficulty: Easy
The Experience: Follows Central Avenue, connecting commerce with nature.
Along the Way: Bradbury Science Museum and the Los Alamos Canyon Rim Trailhead.
Interactive Google Map

Think of pajaritotrails.us as your personal compass to outdoor life and trails on the Pajarito Plateau and Eastern Jemez Mountains.

General Los Alamos info links:

• Local information: losalamos.com
• Visitor site: visitlosalamos.org