Reviewed by: glenzx ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
OK, the description and the reviews are a little confusing here.... I'll probably make it worse, but try not to. There is a "Pajarito Canyon" trail, which is in fact open, and can be accessed off of camp may road to the Nail Trail, then down the Canyon. Very fun! Hard climb up in the canyon, but worth it. The local mtbike club & the Los Alamos Fat tire festival folks have put a good deal of work into the Nail Trail/Pajarito Canyon trail to make it fun. Still has hard/technical spots to be sure, but is open post-fire, is rideable and great!

To confuse issues here, however, the trail description as described initially in this section sounds like it's for the Ski ARea (Pajarito) which in the last few years has seen the singletrack grow and grow. Lot's of options. Park at the ski area once you've got a map in hand, and follow the trail up & to the right out of the base area. Great windy, technical singlettrack for a few miles, then on a a fire road to more trails. Lot's and lot's of options. Here's a link to an older map:
http://tuffriders.losalamos.com/pictures/Pajarito_Punishment_Course.jpg
There are many more trails now to the lower/left on that map by "Lower Oxbow" ski run. Have fun! Great climbing & descending, and once you exit the ski area, just down the road is access to Nail trail to Pajarito Canyon trail, back to town.

Recommended Route:
Follow loop counter-clockwise, and go look for more trails too!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Yow, Los Alamos has too many fun trails to ride. If you need to acclimate to altitude, try the Perimeter Trail. If you're strong, start in town, up perimeter or Quemazon, to Pipe Line road, to the ski area, up the counter clockwise single track/fireroad loop, down the ski hill road a mile or so to the Nail Trail to Pajarito Canyon and back to town. See the Los Alamos Fat tire festival web site for this loop.... it's the racecourse!

Reviewed by: Walt , from Los Alamos

Summary:
Cerro Grande fire has closed this trail indefinitely. Word is that the area may re-open in 2001.

Recommended Route:
No more riding here for a while.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
All of the trails West of W. Jemez road are closed for at least a year.

Reviewed by: Brando , from los alamos

Summary:
Walt was right it is the "Pajarito Canyon Trail" that comes down the south side of the Ski Hill. The "Pajarito Trail" runs north south crossing Rendija, Guaje, Chupaderos, canyons and ends up at Garcia Canyon.

Recommended Route:
Same as description

Reviewed by: Walt Wehner , from LA, NM

Summary:
Great curvy singletrack with lots of trees to bonk into. Stay in control. There are 2 options to head downhill at about the halfway mark, I prefer the Nail trail (left) route. Hard sport climbs in the canyon, some of which are really good (Dragonslayer, Beastmaster, and MoatJump spring to mind). Not insanely technical anywhere (the riding, that is) but there are certainly a couple sections that will keep you interested.

Recommended Route:
This is actually Pajarito CANYON trail, which is very different from _Pajarito_ trail (confused?) Anyhoo, yes, it's a great ride. Almost never ridden, except for the lower section, but well worth the effort. I prefer to simply ride up the singletrack (steep!) and then back down it.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Nail Trail, Fitness trail area, Water Canyon