New Mexico · Hiking

Mitchell Trail (69)

3.8 mi
round trip
2,174 ft
climb
8,851 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jun, Sep
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 9 h ago

Is Mitchell Trail (69) open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Santa Fe National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Santa Fe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Mitchell Trail (69) is a moderate hike in the Espanola Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest, about 1.7 miles from Los Alamos, New Mexico. The trail is an out-and-back route that climbs from a low point of 7,480 feet to a high of 8,851 feet, with a total elevation gain of 2,174 feet over a round-trip distance of about 7.6 miles. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 74°F with lows near 45°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s. The trail sits close to several other destinations. The Mitchell Trail Area and Clifty climbing areas are each about 0.1 mile away, and the Upper Walnut Trail is about 0.4 mile off. School Canyon, a climbing area, is about a mile away.

  • Best time to go · May–Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit Mitchell Trail (69)

    Best months: May–June and September. 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.

    1. Jan

      36° / 9°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 12°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      44° / 20°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      52° / 25°

      8 wet

    5. May

      62° / 32°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 39°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 45°

      15 wet

    8. Aug

      71° / 43°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 35°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 26°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      45° / 17°

      6 wet

    12. Dec

      36° / 9°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Los Alamos 13 W, NM, 11.3 mi away at 8,716 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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