New Mexico · Hiking · Near Santo Domingo Pueblo

Perimeter Traverse

0.3 mi
round trip
14 ft
climb
8,103 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Perimeter Traverse 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 Traverse is a short, easy out-and-back hike in the Espanola Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest in northern New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. The route is about 0.66 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 14 feet, so it's a gentle walk that can be done in a few minutes. The trail starts and ends at nearly the same elevation, with the high point at 8,103 feet and the low point at 8,079 feet. It makes an easy addition to a day spent exploring the surrounding area, and it pairs well with other short hikes in the same neighborhood. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. 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 within a short distance. American Springs (North) and Perimeter South are each about 0.2 miles away, and Rim Run is about 0.4 miles off. Climbers can find the Cañon de Valle Boulders about half a mile from the trail.

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

    Sirphey at Bandelier Restaurant

    Fast food

    On your way back · 7 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

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

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

    Best time to visit Perimeter Traverse

    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, 2.5 mi away at 7,424 ft. The station sits about 700 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.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors