New Mexico · Hiking · Near Santo Domingo Pueblo

Pajarito Canyon

7.7 mi
round trip
2,055 ft
climb
9,828 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jun, Sep
best months

Is Pajarito Canyon 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 Canyon is a hard out-and-back hike in New Mexico's Santa Fe National Forest, within the Espanola Ranger District. The trail climbs from a low point of about 7,758 feet to roughly 9,828 feet, with a total elevation gain of about 2,055 feet over its 7.7-mile route. Bikes are allowed on the natural-surface trail, which makes it a viable option for riders as well as hikers. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Los Alamos show July highs around 74°F with lows near 45°F, though July and August also bring the most wet days of the year, about 15 each month. The station sits about 1,100 feet lower than the canyon's high point, so temperatures up top run cooler. The trail is open seasonally from about May 15 to October 15. Several other trails and climbing areas lie close by. The Nail Trail, Perimeter Trail and Twomile Mesa Trail all start within about a tenth of a mile, and the 45° Boulder climbing area is about 0.2 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Ponderosa Reservation Group Campground

    Campground

    Sites open the weekend of Nov 6 on Recreation.gov
  • Eat after

    Otowi Cafeteria

    Fast food

    On your way back · 2 mi
  • If it rainsNewMexicophotographer1, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    El Rancho de las Golondrinas

    Museum

    Museum · 24 mi from Santo Domingo Pueblo

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: NewMexicophotographer1, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in Santo Domingo Pueblo
  • Best time to go · May–Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit Pajarito Canyon

    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, 9.5 mi away at 8,716 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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.