Trail Options Under Forest Closures

As soon as I saw the plume of smoke rising from the Pacheco fire last Saturday, I said to my neighbor, "The clueless person that started that one just shut down the national forest for all of us."

Sure 'nuff. The Santa Fe National Forest entered Stage 3 restrictions on June 24. All National Forest lands in Los Alamos County are closed to public access until further notice (after a good rainstorm).

The Los Alamos County Trail Network remains open, but all open flames and the use of any internal combustion engine are prohibited.

The Perimeter Trail from the Mitchell Trailhead to the Quemazon area is on County land, but behind Arizona Avenue it is on the Santa Fe National Forest. The First 0.7 miles of the Quemazon Trail is on County land. All the interior trails between the downtown area and the golf course are open. And the paved Canyon Rim Trail is on County land.

Here's a link to a map of the County Trails: http://www.losalamosnm.us/parks/trails/Documents/County%20Trail%20Network%20Color%20Handout%20Map.pdf

Options for a longer loop hike on County land? Pueblo and Bayo canyons have great interconnecting trails that will get you 6 or 7 miles. Try a long loop starting from the aquatic center, down the Ranch School Trail to Pueblo Canyon, down the canyon, up the Camp Hamilton Trail, then back along the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail to the aquatic center. Take plenty of water.

Be careful, drink plenty of water, stay safe, and pray for rain.