Los Alamos’ canyons and mesas hold rich opportunities for hiking, biking, camping, rock climbing, and road-tripping.
Perched atop the Pajarito Plateau in the western reaches of the Jemez Mountains, Los Alamos stretches across four potreros. In the 1940s, the long, finger-shaped mesas were chosen by J. Robert Oppenheimer as the site of a secret atomic laboratory because of the remote mountain wilderness.
Today, Los Alamos’ seclusion offers families and outdoor lovers the chance to immerse themselves in New Mexico’s wild landscape, while the town’s high elevation keeps it cool in the summer months. Begin a mesa-top escape at the Los Alamos Nature Center, where you can learn about the local canyons and mountains that surround this beautiful high-desert destination.
“It’s a great place to stop in to be able to get information about the area if you’re looking to understand the region, environment, and wildlife,” says Jillian Rubio, executive director for the Pajarito Environmental Education Center, the nonprofit that runs the nature center, planetarium, and interpretive gardens.
While the nature center offers detailed maps of the area’s more than 150 miles of interlocking trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, Rubio also recommends downloading the Los Alamos Trails app to help get your bearings. “You can feel like you’re in the middle of the wilderness but still be near town,” Rubio says.
Every Wednesday in June and July, the nature center hosts a family night, featuring activities like driving a robot dog, cuddling baby goats, and spy training. In August, the popular Bear Festival teaches people how to coexist with wildlife and includes a dinner where guests are encouraged to “eat like a bear.” Check the events calendar for regular birding and wildflower walks on nearby trails and astronomy talks.
More family fun can be found at the Bradbury Science Museum, where interactive displays help visitors learn about the Manhattan Project and Los Alamos National Lab’s continuing scientific work. Learn more about the town’s history with a guided tour from the Los Alamos History Museum or a stop at Manhattan Project National Historical Park.
Summer in Los Alamos County also holds opportunities for downhill mountain biking and rock climbing. Los Alamos Mountaineers club president Evan Rose recommends the scenic White Rock Overlook with multiple routes up the 65-foot cliff that are well-suited for beginners. “It gives you a really good view of the Río Grande,” Rose says.
Featuring basalt rock rather than sandstone cliffs, Los Alamos is home to more than a dozen prime spots for rock climbing. Among the hidden gems are the 50-foot southeast-facing basalt crag known as the Doughnut Shop, featuring nine bolted climbs, and the “Y,” a 45-foot climb in the lower Los Alamos Canyon beside a flowing stream.
Just five miles west of town, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area backs up to Valles Caldera National Preserve. “It’s a pretty special place,” says ski mountain general manager Jasen Bellomy, referring to the remains of the ancient volcano.
In summer, Pajarito Mountain’s ski slopes transform into a course of lift-serviced, downhill mountain bike trails. “The terrain is pretty rowdy,” Bellomy says. “We’ve got a lot of old-school, technical-style downhill mountain biking.”
The base of the mountain also features a cross-country trail network for flatter, easier terrain, as well as the nearby Camp May Campground and the Pajarito Mountain Cafe. The campgrounds—and Pajarito Mountain—are open Friday through Sunday in the summer. Pajarito Mountain hosts events including the Bird Bash, SummerFest, Oktoberfest, and the Downhill Rockies Enduro mountain-bike race series.
Campers and RVers can check out White Rock Visitors Center RV Park, Bandelier National Monument, and Jemez Falls Campground in the Santa Fe National Forest, which also offers a variety of primitive campgrounds.
Los Alamos’ high-elevation landscape draws serious athletes and weekend warriors looking to train and test themselves in events ranging from the Jemez Mountain Trail Runs in May to the Los Alamos Triathlon in July. “It’s a little unique,” says Los Alamos County recreation superintendent Katherine Hudspeth of the triathlon. “The bicycle course takes you through the forest and some mountain vistas, and then loops back to the Aquatic Center,” she says of the 20K first leg. Competitors then swim 400 meters in the Olympic-size pool before finishing with a 5K uphill run. For younger competitors, the city offers a junior triathlon (ages 11–16) and a kids’ triathlon (ages 3–10).
Visitors who prefer to stick around the city can take a self-guided walking tour of Los Alamos’ rich history or bring the kids along the paved Canyon Rim Trail in town. “It’s a family-friendly trail,” Hudspeth says. “It’s nice and short.”
With the outdoors so close, traveling to Los Alamos and spending a few days in the mountain town means you can hike, camp, bike, and catch a summer event—all in a weekend.
