Otowi Mesa Trail
Photo: AlisonChaiken, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 0.5 mi
- round trip
- 140 ft
- climb
- 7,103 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- best months
Otowi Mesa Trail is a short, easy out-and-back hike in northern New Mexico, about 3.4 miles from Los Alamos. The route is 1.1 miles long, with a one-way elevation gain of 140 feet, and it rises from 6,935 feet to 7,103 feet at its high point. The land is managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Los Alamos 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. Several other trails start close by. Fireline Trail is 0.2 miles away, Kwage Mesa Utility Road is 0.4 miles away, and Pueblo Canyon Road is 0.5 miles away. Climbers can find Sportsman Boulder - Rendija Canyon about 1.4 miles off.
Fireline TrailHikingPhoto: davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.2 mi- Kwage Mesa Utility RoadHikingPhoto: davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.4 mi
- Pueblo Canyon RoadHiking0.5 mi
- BayoHiking0.8 mi
Sportsman Boulder - Rendija CanyonRock climbingPhoto: AlisonChaiken, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)1.4 mi
The YRock climbingPhoto: Mary P Madigan, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)2.9 mi- Y - North SideRock climbingPhoto: Mary P Madigan, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)2.9 mi
Los Alamos & White RockRock climbingPhoto: Kent G. Budge, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)3.2 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Fireline TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Tent Rocks TrailHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- PajaritoHiking · ~4 min drive
- Kwage Mesa Utility RoadHiking · Next doorPhoto: davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Guaje Canyon Trail 282Hiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: AlisonChaiken, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Deer Trap Mesa TrailsHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: AlisonChaiken, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Camp Hamilton TrailHiking · ~1 min drive
Rendija Canyon Trail (297)Hiking · ~3 min drivePhoto: AlisonChaiken, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- Bayo Bench TrailHiking · ~3 min drive
- Rendija Canyon TrailHiking · ~3 min drivePhoto: AlisonChaiken, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Best time to visit Otowi Mesa Trail
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, 4.6 mi away at 7,424 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
