Lower Pueblo Canyon

Lower Pueblo Canyon

Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544

Official Website

About this Location

Pueblo Canyon is a deep gash in the Pajarito Plateau that runs through the center of Los Alamos. Trails follow the canyon bottom and the south rim, but the north rim is a shear wall of orange volcanic tuff, spewed as ash from the Valles caldera about one million years ago. The rim route offers stunning views of the canyon and the mountains of northern New Mexican, while the canyon trail passes through tall Ponderosa pines in open stands. Also within the canyon are clusters of tent rocks created from dense rocks capping spires of tuff. This loop follows the rim, drops into the canyon on the appropriately named Zipline Trail, and picks up the Tent Rocks Trail to wind back to the west.

Finding the Trailhead: From 15th Street and Central Avenue in downtown Los Alamos, head west (towards the Jemez Mountains) on Central. In 0.4 miles, past Ashley Pond and the Mesa Public Library, turn right into the Aquatic Center parking area. Ample parking is available. The trailhead is just left of the entrance to the aquatic center.

Head north on the Ranch School Trail past the entrance to Kinnikinnik Park and down a broad switchback into Acid Canyon. Stay right at the junction with the Acid Canyon Trail, and then, just before dropping into a narrow canyon, bear right onto the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail. This trail follows a fenceline and climbs four tight switchbacks before leveling out on a bench trail that continues for about a mile. Round the point of Graduation Canyon and pick up the trail with the same name, heading south and out of the canyon. In a few minutes, reach the paved Los Alamos Mesa Trail. Turn left and continue to near the end of that trail where the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail continues as a dirt path.

Skirt behind the Los Alamos Airport buildings and continue east as the trail parallels the airport fence. A few yards after a steep drop, the Zipline Trail turns off to the left. The Zipline Trail wastes no time descending into the canyon on more than a dozen steep switchbacks. Near the canyon bottom, turn left onto the Tent Rocks Trail. This trail winds through a pine forest for about a mile before crossing the channel and ending at the dirt Pueblo Canyon Trail. Turn left and continue up the canyon and past tent rocks. After the second stream crossing, stay left and watch for the Ranch School Trail. Turn left onto this trail, cross the stream again and follow the trail back to the trailhead.

Content from Official Website