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Rendija Canyon
Rendija Canyon lies just to the north of Los Alamos, in Santa Fe National Forest. We use three map areas and two start/finish locations, so please check the directions for the event. The map area covers mesa/canyon terrain at an elevation of around 7000'. The terrain is varied with sandy soil and rock, and many cliffs. The climate is generally quite warm and arid - runners are advised to use sunscreen and carry water - with the chance of flash floods in canyons if heavy rain occurs to the west (up to 10 miles, to the Jemez mountains). Much of the area was burned over during the Cerro Grande fire in 2000, so fallen trees abound, and the remaining dead trees are a potential hazard in windy conditions. (There can be severe risk of fire during dry spells, so smoking is strongly discouraged.) The land is otherwise fairly open, with patches of cactus and other stickery plants. Mesa tops have regions of cryptogamic soil which is damaged by footsteps - step on rock, grass or dirt if you can. Rattlesnakes are not abundant but may occasionally be found, and the area is home to a few mountain lions and bears, and also to the occasional irate hummingbird or hawk. All would prefer not to be disturbed. Sandy soil in canyon bottoms may be undermined by gophers, an ankle hazard. Some map features change more rapidly than we can represent, e.g. the course of trails and stream beds, and areas covered by fallen trees: bear this in mind while navigating. The map shows only the most unique rocks - many more are omitted for clarity. The southeast corner of the area abuts a firing range: do not enter the range! The boundary is marked with fences and signs. Otherwise, the safety bearing is south.See vicinity map, courtesy of David Barfield.
Rendija/Pajarito trailhead
Pajarito Trailhead parking lot, 300 m west of the Gun Club in Rendija Canyon.From Pojoaque take Rte 502 to Los Alamos. Continue on 502/Trinity Drive to the intersection with Diamond Drive (major intersection; Diamond is a 4 lane road). Get in right lane when approaching Diamond. Turn right on Diamond and follow it about 3 miles to where it ends in a roundabout. Get in the left lane when approaching the roundabout. Drive 3/4 of the way around the roundabout and up North San Ildefonso Rd. At the top of the mesa, after three blocks the road you are on veers off to the right and becomes Barranca Rd. Instead, continue straight on San Ildefonso Rd (i.e. turning left beside the play area) towards the Sportsman's Club. The road winds downhill and then up a small rise. At the top of the rise, where the road turns from pavement to gravel, turn left into the parking area.
See the course-setter's notes.
Rendija/Guaje Pines cemetary
Start/finish may be on the east or the west side of the cemetary, see meet directions to be sure. They are only a couple of hundred meters apart, and you pass the east side first. In either case, the tents and tables at the start/finish should be visible to the right of the road.From Pojoaque take Rte 502 to Los Alamos. Continue on 502/Trinity Drive to the intersection with Diamond Drive (major intersection; Diamond is a 4 lane road). Get in right lane when approaching Diamond. Turn right on Diamond and follow it past three traffic lights and the golf course. Just past the golf course, you will pass a fire station on the left. Immediately after the fire station, turn left onto Range Rd. Follow Range Rd to where it bends left towards the entrance to the cemetery. Park and descend a dirt road to the start/finish on the east or west side of the cemetery.
See the course-setter's notes.
Rendija East
Pajarito Trailhead - see Rendija/Pajarito trailhead for directions and notes.Rendija West
Guaje Pines cemetary - see Rendija/Guaje Pines for directions and notes.Rendija South (Guaje Pines)
Guaje Pines cemetary - see Rendija/Guaje Pines for directions and notes.Rendija South (Pajarito Trailhead)
Pajarito Trailhead - see Rendija/Pajarito trailhead for directions and notes.Bayo Canyon
Bayo Canyon lies to the south of the Barranca Mesa subdivision in Los Alamos. Starts and finishes are generally from the Opsahls' house.From Pojoaque take Rte 502 to Los Alamos. Continue on 502/Trinity Drive to the intersection with Diamond Drive (major intersection; Diamond is a 4 lane road). Get in right lane when approaching Diamond. Turn right on Diamond and follow it about 3 miles to where it ends in a roundabout. Get in the left lane when approaching the roundabout. Drive 3/4 of the way around the roundabout and up North San Ildefonso Rd. At the top of the mesa, take the first left (Chamisa). Number 141 is a couple of hundred yards along, on the left.
Los Alamos townsite
Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC)
In Pojoaque, take Route 502 into Los Alamos, where it becomes Trinity Drive. Continue west on Trinity Drive to the intersection with Diamond Drive. Turn right on Diamond. Take Diamond to Orange Street. Turn right on Orange Street. PEEC is on the corner of Orange and Olive Street in the L Wing Building (3540 Orange Street). O signs will direct you to parking.Doc Long/Cienega Canyon
East side of Sandia mountains, east of Albuquerque.See driving and camping directions (courtesy of Jerry Boyd).
See also our map of parking areas (pdf format). For online viewing this rotated version is easier to read.
