Los Alamos: Science, History, and Hiking Trails
Accommodation in Los Alamos
Science and history take center stage at the Bradbury Science Museum. A 2025 description lists more than 40 interactive exhibits in the three main galleries: History, Defense, and Research. Topics include supercomputing, space technology, renewable energy, plutonium, and nuclear responsibility; individual exhibits and gallery content may change. The planetarium at the Los Alamos Nature Center offers a different focus: its 30-foot dome hosts live star talks and multimedia shows. Since the program may change, check which shows are being offered before your visit.
Science, History, and Guided Insights
The Secret City Tours last 1.5 to 2 hours and begin at the Los Alamos History Museum gift shop. They visit an Ancestral Pueblo site and the homestead-era Romero Cabin, and also provide information about the Los Alamos Ranch School. If you plan to take a tour, check the schedule in advance.
Archaeological Sites and Hiking Trails
Bandelier National Monument protects part of the Pajarito Plateau, which has one of the largest concentrations of Ancestral Pueblo archaeological sites in the American Southwest. More than 70 miles of hiking trails lie within the monument’s boundaries, including the Main (Pueblo) Loop Trail and the Alcove House Trail, accessible from the visitor center in Frijoles Canyon. Access to Alcove House is via four long wooden ladders and a series of narrow stone steps. Check current safety advisories before your hike.
The Tsankawi Unit of Bandelier National Monument is located on State Highway 4, twelve miles from the park’s main area. A 1.5-mile trail crosses a mesa, passing cavates, petroglyphs, and the Ancestral Pueblo village of Tsankawi. The unit’s pinyon-juniper woodlands provide habitat for short-horned lizards.
Volcanic Landscapes, Views, and Getting Your Bearings
The Kwage Mesa Trail combines scenic views with a glimpse into the volcanic history of northern New Mexico: Los Alamos Wayside: A Volcanic Landscape is a viewpoint along the trail, which reveals features of that history. The Anderson Overlook on NM 502 offers a different perspective. Its roadside location opens up views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Rio Grande Valley. The comparison is straightforward: the Kwage Mesa Trail highlights geological history, while the overlook offers sweeping views of mountains and valley.
For hiking plans in Los Alamos County, the network of more than 100 miles of trails provides options suitable for most fitness and experience levels. The Los Alamos Visitor Center is wheelchair accessible. Travelers who want to give nature, science, and history different levels of emphasis when planning their trip will find a range of themes for their stay, from interactive exhibits and star shows to archaeological sites, trails, and overlooks.
Discover more destinations: Los Alamos, Doña Ana, Curry, Bernalillo, Grant County, Socorro, Valencia, Guadalupe County.
For the main travel overview: New Mexico.
