New Mexico · Hiking

Pajarito

8.2 mi
round trip
1,153 ft
climb
7,511 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Pajarito 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.

Pajarito is a hard hike of about 8 miles on the Espanola Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest in northern New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is an out-and-back with a one-way climb of about 1,150 feet, starting at roughly 6,900 feet and reaching about 7,500 feet at the high point. The route is on natural surface, and bikes are allowed. That makes it a practical option for riders as well as hikers. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from the nearby Los Alamos weather station show May highs around 70°F and September highs around 74°F, while July and August bring the most wet days, about 13 to 14 a month. Several other trails sit close by. Rendija Crack Loop is about 0.1 mile away, Rendija Canyon Trail about 0.2 mile, and Barranca Mesa North Rim Trail about 0.3 mile. Climbers can find Los Alamos & White Rock about 0.9 mile off.

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

    Best time to visit Pajarito

    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, 3.7 mi away at 7,424 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.