Pajarito Trails Initiative

  Mission Overview The Pajarito Trails Initiative ( pajaritotrails.blogspot.com ) is an effort by Places & Spaces Los Alamos to foster a collective identity and better promote the extraordinary trail systems and outdoor-focused activities on the Pajarito Plateau and in the eastern Jemez Mountains. The initiative recognizes that this landscape is a mosaic of different jurisdictions and focuses on six interconnected trail systems in the area: Los Alamos County, LANL, the Santa Fe National Forest (on the Plateau and in the eastern Jemez), Bandelier, Valles Caldera, and Pajarito Mountain Ski Area. Strategies & Key Projects We are pursuing our mission through four core strategies: Collaboration, Stewardship, Connectivity, and State/National Recognition. ● Pajarito Trails Series (Collaboration, Connectivity, & Stewardship) The Series is a primary vehicle for engaging stakeholders—including event/activity hosts, recreation groups, land managers, and businesses—to develop a coh...

Places and Spaces Los Alamos (PSLA) is a member of American Trails. American Trails has agreed to sponsor our participation in a course called “ Building Access from the Ground Up: A Roadmap for Outdoor Recreation Communities .” There will be four 90-minute VIDEO CONFERENCE SESSIONS. All held on Tuesdays, March 10-31, 2026 • 11:30-1:00.  We have been given permission to invite several more people to this training for free. If interested, email placesandspacesla@gmail.com to request an invitation and we'll send you one, first-come, first-served.

Based on the analysis of the stakeholder engagement questionnaire, here are the key insights from stakeholder responses: Respondents -  Stakeholder responses cover a good range of outdoor organizations, activities, and events. I couldn’t find a fishing or hunting group, and repeated attempts to contact a SW Nordic Ski Club rep were unsuccessful. Nineteen responses were received from stakeholders affiliated with a range of area trails systems and interests, including:

 In order to demonstrate what a Pajarito Trail Series calendar could be like, volunteers have prototyped a Pajarito Trails Series calendar using the Google Calendar platform. It is a highly interactive calendar that includes all events and activities we identified through our research. Features: Interactivity Features User selectable views (day, week, month, agenda/schedule) User selectable "tracks" may be added in the future  Intuitive date navigation and selection searchable (for instance, seraching on "Bandelier" filters for Bandelier-related events.) print capability A single click adds this calendar to users of gmail and Google Calendars own calendar where it can be clicked on and off. The calendar and individual events can be forwarde by email to others with just a click. Configuration Prototype uses a description field template to standardize event/activity entries Administrative Features Hosts/Organizers can be given authorities to add and edit their own eve...

Places and Spaces Los Alamos (PSLA) volunteers have been learning to use ArcGIS to create StoryMaps, a way to tell a place's story through maps. The test case/learning project has been to create a "Sky Island Circuit" StoryMap. The initial version is complete and can be viewed at this link: Sky Island Circuit PSLA seeks additional volunteers with ArcView GIS expertise to assist with projects, either by building them or by serving as an advisor. We are also seeking sponsors or a small grant to cover development costs. The Sky Island Circuit is an interactive, web-based driving tour guide built as an ArcGIS StoryMap that showcases the dramatic landscapes and deep history of a part of Northern New Mexico . This 240-mile scenic loop interweaves multiple cultural and environmental layers: Ancestral Pueblo life, 17th-century Spanish legacy, world-changing science, and premier outdoor recreation . Choice of Title: Why "Sky Island Circuit"? The title was inspired by ...

Based on input gathered over the past weeks, the Pajarito Trails Series Overview has been updated to reflect the current thinking about the project. From the multiple formats originally considered, we have narrowed the selection to the year-round series format and made additional refinements. Current version of the Overview.

As part of stakeholder outreach, PSLA will be providing information and seeking input on its Pajarito Trails Fest Initiative to various representatives of Trail system managers and trails event organizers. The goal is to gather and evaluate reactions to the ideas being generated by PSLA to inform our path forward.  The latest overview is available at  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fvJU3FgLUtgQZ1cRsBq0cc3JIHzDJxOS/view?usp=sharing The stakeolder outreach also includes individual meetings with stakeholders unable to attend the meeting. If you have ideas for us or are interested in getting involved, contact Kevin Holsapple at placesandspacesla@gmail.com