Paintout -Pueblo Canyon - Los Alamos

Pueblo Canyon

Los Alamos

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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 offers stunning views of the canyon and the mountains of northern New Mexico. Within the canyon are clusters of tent rocks created from dense rocks capping spires of tuff. 

Los Alamos has plenty of eating opportunities in walking distance. Cell phone reception is poor.

DIRECTIONS:

From Taos (approx. 64 miles):

From Santa Fe (35 miles, approx. 45 min):

1. Follow US-285 N.

2. In Pojoaque, take the NM-502 W exit toward Los Alamos    3. Continue on NM-502 into Los Alamos.                              4. At the curve in the road 502 goes left and Central is straight ahead. Go straight on Central Ave.                           5. Continue west on Central, past Ashley Pond and the Mesa Public Library, then turn right into the Aquatic Center parking area. Park at the public swimming pool at your left. The trail head is just out of the parking lot left of the entrance to the aquatic center.

From Albuquerque (95 miles, approx. 1 hr. 45 min.):

I-25 North.                                                                     Take exit 276 - Rt 599 north (Hwy. 599 - Veterans Memorial Hwy. / Santa Fe Relief Rd.).                        Take US-285 North/US-84 W., then follow the directions from #2 above.

For a map of the area go to https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8776154,-106.2909858,15.01z

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