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Recreational Activities
Home : Ranger
Districts : Española Ranger District
: Trails
Trail 69, Mitchell Trail
Length: 4.4 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Use: Moderate
Seasons: Spring, summer, and fall
Highest and Lowest Points: 7,500 feet to 8,800 feet
Trail Access: The trailhead is located on Arizona Avenue in Los
Alamos. Arizona is reached by following Diamond Drive east to 36th
Street. Turn north on 36th, and in less than ½ a mile you
will meet Arizona Avenue. Turn left on Arizona and follow to the
trailhead just short of the intersection with Yucca, and look for
a small parking area with a Forest Service trailhead kiosk.
USGS Maps: Guaje Mountain
Description:
This trail may be hard to follow due to the effects of the
Cerro Grande Fire (see below). The first portion of the trail
offers opportunities for a self guided “interpretive
experience” where one may study at length the effects
of wildfire, and various fire rehabilitation efforts. As such
there are plans for future development of this idea.
Leaving the trailhead, the Mitchell Trail soon passes a junction
with the Perimeter Trail to the west, and then immediately
crosses a dirt service road, and again meets another junction
with the Perimeter Trail, this time to the east. Continue
ahead on the Mitchell, as it gradually drops down, crossing
a small drainage and climbing up the other side. The trail
meanders across this low ridge until it drops down to and
crosses Rendija Canyon. The Interpretive Trail at this point
turns into the drainage bottom, and follows Rendija Canyon
in a loop back to the first canyon crossing and the trailhead.
A short steep scramble up a side trail to the east will bring
you to a natural arch.
If you continue on up the main trail, it climbs steeply and
has many twists and turns. Eventually you will meet a false
ridge that you might take for Guaje Ridge; if so, you would
be mislead. Continue on, bearing west a bit along this ridgetop
and soon after some switchbacks you will reach Guaje Ridge
and the memorial site (see below). From the ridge, the trail
follows the Guaje Ridge Trail 285 west for less than 100 feet
before continuing north and dropping to down steeply off the
ridge and into Guaje Canyon and to the old Guaje Reservoir.
Note: Many sections of this trail may be very difficult to
find and follow.
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Notes:
 The
Mitchell Trail 69 was established in 1973 by David Mitchell
as his Eagle Scout project. He had recognized the demand for
a trail leading from Los Alamos directly to the Guaje Reservoir,
which was once a major munincipal water source. The trail
is direct and steep, and easily accessible to the community
of Los Alamos. David died just a few short years after the
completion of the trail, which is now dedicated to his memory.
A formal memorial is located at the intersection of the Mitchell
Trail and Trail 285 with a view overlooking Los Alamos.
This
trail, like many in the Los Alamos area, is at least partially
within the area burned by the Cerro Grande Fire of 2000. The
trail has suffered severe damage in some places, and trail
rehabilitation efforts have failed to fully restore the trail
to pre-fire conditions.
Visitors
should be aware of dangers and hazards in the burned area.
In particular, recreation in the burned area should be avoided
during windy days and during rainstorms due to the danger
of flash floods and falling trees. |
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