Los Alamos, considered the healthiest county in the country by Bloomberg News, is encouraging visitors to adopt some healthy habits by hitting the hiking trails. With 58 miles of trails in the county itself and over 100 in the surrounding national forest, Los Alamos is an ideal location to partake in the popular outdoor activity all year long.
“When you consider the many benefits of hiking such as lowering your cholesterol, losing weight and reducing stress, hiking is a great way to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors while doing something good for yourself,” said Los Alamos County open space specialist, Craig Martin. “What makes hiking in Los Alamos different is the year-round accessibility to really cool trails that will take you to archaeological sites or weird rock formations or spectacular vistas that stretch 60 miles in all directions.”
The county periodically hosts trail-based exercise activities, including the recent free walking tour from Los Alamos’ Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) on Nov. 12. For visitors who would like to participate in a hiking event, experienced hiker Paul Arendt will lead a seven-mile Ancho Rapids to Red Dot Hike on Dec. 1, also hosted by the PEEC. In addition, Los Alamos mountaineer Michael Altheer will lead a winter snowshoe hike on Jan. 13, a free five-mile excursion following the East Fork of the Jemez River. Space is limited, and can be reserved online.
The Details
Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce
www.fyila.com
Pajarito Environmental Education Center
www.peec.org
