New Mexico · Hiking

Perimeter Trail

0.2 mi
round trip
131 ft
climb
7,577 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Perimeter Trail 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.

Perimeter Trail is a short, easy hike in the Espanola Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest in northern New Mexico. The trail is about 0.16 miles from the start, and the round trip is about 0.32 miles with a total climb of about 131 feet. The route is an out-and-back, and the steepest part comes early, at about 0.05 miles from the start, with a grade of about 6 percent. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically late spring and 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 and climbing areas sit within a short distance. Mitchell Trail (69) and the Mitchell Trail Area are about 0.2 miles away, and La Mountain Trail is about 0.3 miles off. The Clifty climbing area is also about 0.2 miles away.

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

    Best time to visit Perimeter 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, 2.7 mi away at 7,424 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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