Los Alamos Biking Trails near LANL
These are all trails located to the south of Los Alamos Canyon. Some require that you be a LANL employee or family member to ride them. However, they are for all practical purposes open to the public. Enjoy!
0. Project Trail
Technical difficulty: 3-
Physical difficulty: 2 (DH trail)
Elevation gain/loss: currently loses ~300 feet over 3/4 mile
100% singletrack
The beginnings of what will hopefully be a trail that runs from Pajarito ski area all the way to the LANL Wellness Center. Currently, the trail begins at the top of the trail that heads to the base of the ski hill road from the north side of W. Jemez, across from the Wellness center (the LANL Watertower loop) and runs downhill to the same place. It is not tremendously technical, though there is one steep drop that novice riders may want to portage.
1. The Berth-Kanal (aka Nail Trail and Pajarito Canyon Trail)
Technical difficulty: 3+
Physical difficulty: 3
Elevation gain/loss: ? over 3.5 miles
80% singletrack, 20% doubletrack
An excellent technical loop, mostly singletrack with some unmaintained doubletrack. Runs from an outlet of the LANL fitness trail (just across the road from a big blue sign) to Pajarito canyon. The first 1.5 miles are steep, technical uphill over loose rocks and ruts, then you come to a dirt road. Turn left, then look for a faint singletrack to the right (sometimes marked with a small cairn.) The singletrack rolls uphill for a mile or so, then drops into Pajarito Canyon and cruises back to West Jemez on a narrow, off-camber trail that is a true joy. The northern half of the loop is also quite fun downhill, but the southern part isn't so great up. Rehabilitated (by rerouting significant portions of the trail) by the LA Tuffriders in May 2001. A couple of hike-a-bike sections remain, but the trail is once again a BLAST.
To see a trail log of the Berth-Kanal, click here.
2. Road 2996
Technical difficulty: 2
Physical difficulty: 2
Elevation gain/loss:? over 2 miles
100% doubletrack
Fairly boring dirt road that is often muddy. Runs from Pajarito Canyon to the West Jemez Water Tanks. There's a short section of singletrack near the north end of the road that is pretty fun, and a fairly long singletrack that connects with FR 181, accessed at the south end of the road.
3. Water Canyon Trail
Technical difficulty: 2+
Physical difficulty: 3
Elevation gain/loss:? over 2 miles
100% singletrack
Short, but fun singletrack that's a good beginner ride. Goes west and up toward American Springs from West Jemez road.
Basically annihilated by the Cerro Grande fire and subsequent runoff.
4. Road 181
Technical difficulty: 2-
Physical difficulty: 3-
Elevation gain/loss:? over 4 miles
100% doubletrack
Runs from American Springs to West Jemez Road - or the other way. Loops well with Water Canyon trail. In great shape this year - to find the start of the trail, drive south toward the back gate on W. Jemez road until you see a water tower on the right. Park and look for the obvious dirt road heading west and uphill. Also a freakin' great downhill run, for the gravity-obsessed (especially since it can be easily shuttled).
5. LANL Fitness Trail
Technical difficulty: 2
Physical difficulty: 2
Elevation gain/loss: ? over 3.3 miles
20% singletrack 80% doubletrack
Description: The LANL fitness trail connects the Los Alamos National Laboratory's main buildings (Otowi, Admin, etc.) with West Jemez Road (and then parallels it for about 2 miles.) There are several trail options - a flat, 10-foot wide trail goes almost straight to S-site. The actual fitness trail (replete with '70s vintage exercise equipment) follows the same course, but weaves back and forth across the larger trail. The trail is heavily used during the week, so bikers should stay in control at all times. Not much of an attraction, but a nice way to get to the West Jemez area trails without having to ride up the road.
For a trail log and directions, click here
There are a number of subsidiary trails worth exploring in this area, some of which are fun downhills uncharacteristic of Los Alamos - smooth and very fast. The best can be found (when riding west from LANL) when the wide trail meets an old asphalt road (at a small blue sign that says "S-site trail".) On the right is a singletrack that follows the roadcut for 200 yards, then heads downhill back to LANL. It's hardpacked, twisty, and super fast (but only about a mile long.) Pretend you're a speederbike rider in "Return of the Jedi" - just not one of the storm trooper ones.
Just before you reach this turnoff, a dirt road heads left - this is also a fun (doubletrack) descent through the pines, recently built as a firebreak by LANL.
6. Mortendad Canyon Singletrack
Technical Difficulty: 2+
Physical Difficulty: 2+
Elevation gain/loss: ? over 2.5 miles
50% singletrack, 50% dirt road
This trail is accessed from LANL's TA-52. It's a singletrack that loops with an old dirt road. It can be connected with the Eniwetok trails via a dirt road that follows a powerline.
For a trail log of the Eniweektok/Mortendad trail, click here.
7. LANL Watertower Loop
Technical difficulty: 2-3
Physical difficulty: 2+
Elevation gain/loss: ? over 1.7 miles (loop)
mostly doubletrack
This is a short loop composed of old roads and sections of singletrack that loops around the water towers just north of W. Jemez road, at LANL. Technical difficulty of this trail really depends on whether you just ride it slow (it's easy) or use it as a downhill kamikaze run. It's probably one of the best sections of trail in town for working on DH skills - loose enough to be interesting, rocky, but ridable at VERY high speeds. Beware that there are often hikers on it, especially around lunchhour.
To see a trail log, click here.
CLOSED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
8. Ice Rink Trail
Technical difficulty: 4- down, 5 up
Physical difficulty: 1 down, 3 up
Elevation gain/loss: ~200 feet over 1 mile
100% singletrack
This trail goes from behind the LANL fire station north and downhill to the LA ice rink. It's pretty fun, but there are 3 or 4 switchbacks at the bottom that are basically too tight to ride without dabbing. Watch for the water bars and overhanging trees. There are also some faint trails in the bottom of the canyon that go from the ice rink toward the reservoir, but they pretty much suck.
9. Eniweetok/Mortendad Canyon Trails
Technical difficulty: 2-3
Physical difficulty: 2
Elevation gain/loss: ? over 4.3 miles
20% doubletrack, 80% singletrack
Trails that are accessed by riding east on Eniweetok road, at LANL. You can head east when the pavement ends and ride a long, fairly boring gravel road (which drops into canyons and eventually deadends) or you can turn right (south) and explore a network of dirt roads and trails that also head east. These are some of the best non-technical trails in the county! They are smooth, fast, and winding singletracks that are a blast! Highly recommended!
For a trail log of the Eniweetok/Mortendad ride, click here.
10. Valle Canyon Trail
Technical difficulty: 2-3
Physical difficulty: 3+
Elevation gain/loss: up quite a bit over ~3 miles
20% doubletrack, 80% singletrack
This trail leaves from road 2996 1/2 mile up from the south end. It's an obvious singletrack that heads almost due west. Though historically this was a wagon road of some sort, it rides like singletrack (it probably hasn't seen 4-wheeled traffic in 15 years, at least.) The first half mile or so is very rocky and loose, then things smooth out considerably. If it got more bike traffic, this would be an absolutely classic trail. As it is, it's a super fun downhill run (make sure you're solid on loose rocks!) Also make sure you've got at least 40 psi in your tires - the bottom half of the downhill is pinch-flat central.
11. Pajarito Ski Area
Technical difficulty: 2
Physical difficulty: 3+
Elevation gain/loss: up quite a bit over ~2 miles
100% doubletrack
You'd think that the local ski area would be mountain bike heaven - but unfortunately, the "soil" is mainly composed of big rocks, making the prospects for fun riding pretty slim. However, there are several jeep roads (gravel covered and fairly boring) that will take you to the summit of the mountain, and some beautiful views of Valle Grande. Someone should really build a trail from the summit down to the southeast, but it'd be a big project.
As of this summer (2000), the Tuffriders are working on building some singletrack at the ski area. Should be quite cool! Look for work to be completed by mid-July.
CLOSED DUE TO CERRO GRANDE FIRE
12. Abe's Trail
Technical difficulty: 2+
Physical difficulty: 3
Up about 1000 feet over maybe 4 miles?
40% doubletrack, 60% singletrack
This is an old game trail that was somewhat refurbished by yours truly, after my dog Abe discovered it. It could be REALLY fun if more work was put in, but that will have to wait for next summer. To find the trail, go to the parking area for the Nail trail/Pajarito canyon, but instead of riding north into the canyon, ride south on the dirt road until you see a singletrack headed right (west). Turn onto this and follow it uphill until you come to another section of the dirt road - turn right and follow the road uphill for about a mile, then look for a singletrack on the left. The trail will head west and uphill for a ways, then turn left and back downhill. Pretty smooth and fast - or at least, it will be once some of the downed trees and crap are out of the way.