The Pajarito Trails Series (PTS) is a year-round celebration of the world-class trail networks and outdoor culture of the Pajarito Plateau and eastern Jemez Mountains.
The Pajarito Plateau is a unique landscape—a mosaic of deep canyons and high mesas managed by a variety of jurisdictions. The Pajarito Trails Series is a unifying thread, bringing a collective identity to these diverse spaces and promoting them as premier places & spaces for adventure, discovery, community, and wellness.
Our Vision
We believe that our trails are more than just dirt paths; they are a living museum of history and a vital community asset. Our mission is to foster a deeper public appreciation for our trail networks through a collaborative "coalition" model. Instead of a single, centrally controlled organization, the PTS is a hyper-local effort that serves as a "switchboard" for a diverse array of events and activities hosted by local clubs, land stewards, and businesses.
The Six Interconnecting Systems
Our work focuses on the six primary trail systems that define our region:
Los Alamos County
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
Santa Fe National Forest (Plateau and eastern Jemez regions)
Bandelier National Monument
Valles Caldera National Preserve
Pajarito Mountain Ski Area
The Four Pillars of Our Work
We pursue our mission through four core strategies:
Collaboration: Engaging recreation groups, land managers, and local businesses to develop a cohesive regional brand and a unified "umbrella" for all trail-related events.
Stewardship: Promoting responsible use and preservation through our partnership with AllTrails.com, utilizing digital tools to improve trail data and protect sensitive resources.
Connectivity: Advocating for physical and conceptual links between trail systems, including the integration of the Rio Grande Trail into our local networks.
National Recognition: Seeking official National Recreation Trail designations to secure federal recognition for our premier assets and bolster eligibility for recreation grants.
Who We Are
The Pajarito Trails Series is an initiative of Places & Spaces Los Alamos (PSLA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating, improving, and activating spaces for community life. We serve as the facilitator, providing the professional infrastructure and centralized master calendar that allows our stakeholders—the local experts—to do what they do best: organize and lead incredible outdoor experiences.
Get Involved
Whether you are a hiker, mountain biker, equestrian, or a local business owner, there is a place for you in the Pajarito Trails Series. Explore our calendar, join a stewardship event, or reach out to see how your organization can join the coalition.
Explore. Connect. Protect. Be a part of the Pajarito Trails Series.
