New Mexico · Hiking

Otowi Mesa Trail

Otowi Mesa TrailPhoto: 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.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

    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.

    1. Jan

      40° / 21°

      6 wet

    2. Feb

      45° / 24°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      53° / 30°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      61° / 35°

      6 wet

    5. May

      70° / 44°

      6 wet

    6. Jun

      81° / 53°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 57°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 55°

      14 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 49°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      63° / 38°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      50° / 28°

      5 wet

    12. 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.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Fireline TrailPhoto: davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Fireline Trail

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Tent Rocks TrailPhoto: davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Kwage Mesa Utility RoadPhoto: davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Guaje Canyon Trail 282Photo: AlisonChaiken, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Deer Trap Mesa TrailsPhoto: AlisonChaiken, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Camp Hamilton Trail

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Rendija Canyon Trail (297)Photo: AlisonChaiken, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Rendija Canyon Trail (297)

~3 min drive

2.12-mile out-and-back hike in New Mexico with 175 ft elevation gain

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Bayo Bench Trail

~3 min drive

1.7-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 782 ft gain/loss.

Rendija Canyon TrailPhoto: AlisonChaiken, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Rendija Canyon Trail

~3 min drive

0.07-mile lollipop trail in New Mexico with 12 ft elevation loss.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors