Ponderosa Reservation Group Campground
Campground
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New Mexico · Hiking · Near Santo Domingo Pueblo
American Springs (North)
- 0.2 mi
- round trip
- 14 ft
- climb
- 8,159 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- best months
Is American Springs (North) open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Santa Fe National Forest.
Road Conditions
Agency alert covering Santa Fe National Forest · USFS · Santa Fe National Forest
Headquarters Well Area Closure on Española Ranger District
Agency alert covering Espanola Ranger District · Order 03-10-06-25-17 · USFS · Espanola Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Santa Fe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
American Springs (North) is a short, easy hike in the Espanola Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest in northern New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 0.34 miles, with a low point of 8,134 feet and a high of 8,159 feet, so the climb is a mere 14 feet of elevation gain. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the nearby Los Alamos weather station, which sits about 735 feet lower, show May highs around 70°F and October highs around 63°F, while July and August bring the most wet days, about 13 to 14 a month. The Perimeter Traverse starts just 0.1 mile away, and Rim Run is about 0.2 mile off. Climbers can head to the Cañon de Valle Boulders, about 0.3 mile away, and the Valle hike is roughly 0.4 mile from the trail.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Otowi Cafeteria
Fast food
On your way back · 3 mi
If it rainsNewMexicophotographer1, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: NewMexicophotographer1, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)
More in Santo Domingo PuebloLocal outfitters
- Turquoise Trail Campground49 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Best time to visit American Springs (North)
Best months: April–June and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
40° / 21°
6 wet
Feb
45° / 24°
6 wet
Mar
53° / 30°
7 wet
Apr
61° / 35°
6 wet
May
70° / 44°
6 wet
Jun
81° / 53°
7 wet
Jul
83° / 57°
13 wet
Aug
80° / 55°
14 wet
Sep
74° / 49°
9 wet
Oct
63° / 38°
6 wet
Nov
50° / 28°
5 wet
Dec
40° / 21°
6 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Los Alamos, NM, 2.5 mi away at 7,424 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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Perimeter Traverse
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0.35-mile out-and-back trail with 220 ft elevation gain in New Mexico.
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Valle
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6.04-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 1,689 ft gain.
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Water Canyon
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3.69-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 969 ft elevation gain.
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Perimeter Traverse
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0.33-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 36 ft of elevation gain.
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Pajarito Canyon
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7.69-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 2,640 ft elevation gain.
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Fitness Trail
~4 min drive
A 4.5-mile fitness-focused loop with steady elevation gain.
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Rim Run
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Rim Run is a 1.43-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 309 feet of elevation gain.
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Frijoles Rim Trail
~4 min drive
11.36-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 2,063 ft elevation gain and loss.
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Los Alamos Canyon Trail (294)
~4 min drive
2.14-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 846 ft gain and 846 ft loss.
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Perimeter South
Next door
Perimeter South is a 0.81-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 181 ft of elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
