Pajarito Mountain Run
10K Mountain Classic
August 22nd, 2026
Escape the Summer Heat!
High Alpine New Mexico Trail Running is the BEST! This Grassroots Trail Run looks to showcase some high altitude trails, perfect for escaping the Summer heat and the opportunity to support the areas wonderful resorts.
Pajarito is the second event in the “Mountain Cap Trail Series”
The Pajarito Mountain Run starts and finishes near the Lodge and makes a 3.25 Mile ascent up to the Summit of Pajarito Mountain before beginning a serpentine descent on "Aspen For Trouble" Trail back to the Lodge. The route tops out at over 10,200' and has 1,350' of ascent.
The route begins with a mile of rolling Singletrack on the Lower Aspenola Trail before beginning the roughly 2.25 Mile ascent on Service Road to the Summit Aid Station. From there, you’ll begin your descent on the Aspen For Trouble Singletrack with a short bout on Service Road before finishing up with another short stint on Singletrack to the Finish! The course will be thoroughly marked with YELLOW flagging, arrows along with other directional signage at relevant junctions. There are no cut offs on route so hikers are more than welcome.
The Series also includes two other great New Mexico races...check out:
Enlightenment Mountain Run- Two days of epic Trailrunning. Ascent (Saturday) & Mountain Classic (Sunday) on August 15th & 16th in Angel Fire, NM.
Sandia Quest- 10M in Albuquerque @ Sandia Peak Ski Area on August 29th
Race Details
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We invite you join us for the weekend at Pajarito Mountain and the town of Los Alamos. This venue is perfect for spending time outdoors, enjoying the beautiful natural landscapes of the River Grande Valley and the numerous outdoor recreation opportunities.
From the Stone Age to the Atomic Age, Los Alamos has a history of discovery. Pajarito Mountain Ski Area was built entirely by volunteers—men and women who continue to be an active part of this community today. Let us help you discover the rich history of Pajarito.
Saturday- 10K Mountain Classic Style Event. Basically, Run/Hike up and have a blast coming back down the flowy descent to the Start/Finish.
Rules:
-There are no early starts.
-There are no late starts.
-No littering -
Can I sign up the day of the race?
-Yes, but we not have your preferred shirt size and other swag. Race day sign up will be cash only.
Can I bring my dog on the race course?
-Although we absolutely love running with our four-legged friends unfortunately, our insurance does not permit dogs on course.
Can I hike instead of run?
-Absolutely! We encourage all adventurers and will give you a generous amount of time to enjoy the route. In the end, we want all participants to be able to finish the race route.
More info in our “Policies/FAQs” tab.
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Pajarito Mountain, Los Alamos, NM
397 Camp May Road, Los Alamos, NM 87547
✓ Enjoy Endless Summer Fun
✓ Family Friendly Activities
✓ Miles of Downhill Mountain Bike Terrain -
Located on the deck just below the Lift at Pajarito Ski.
“Mountain Classic”- 10K
Saturday, 8am - 8:45am
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Camping options are available along Camp May Road and at Camp May itself. Located just minutes from Pajarito Ski. Camping is first come, first serve.
or
Multiple cabins, vacation rentals and hotels in the surrounding area. Patronage is always appreciated. -
Saturday
8:50am - Final announcements 9:00am- Race Starts
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Mountain Classic= Noon @ the Summit. No cut off at the Finish.
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The 10K route start at an elevation of roughly 9,200 feet and climbs to roughly 10,400 feet. You can expect cooler temps up high, perfect for that Summer escape from the Heat and Humidity of other areas.
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The route uses YELLOW confidence flagging along with YELLOW ground flags and Arrows.
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The route follows Singletrack Trail, Service Roads and some minor Ski Tracks. Be prepared for rocks, roots and other natural surface features. It is a beautiful route with multiple lookout points and is highly engaging.
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Typically Sunny and Beautiful.
Some afternoon storms are possible.
Use this link for current conditions on the mountain:
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We will provide Water, Tailwind and some basic nutrition at the Start/Finish.
You are expected to be mostly self sufficient on course.
We will supply Water at the Summit.
We do not provide cups. Please bring your own hydration vessel.
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Custom laser engraved awards for all finishers.
Overall Awards for the following categories:
Male - Female - Non Binary - Masters
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It becomes more and more difficult to respond to emails the closer it is to an event. If we don’t respond close to the event, please understand we are busy and/or out of service.
Please refrain from asking questions already addressed on our website.
If you’re capable of running the event, you’re probably capable of reading our information. Also, it probably takes more time to type an email versus reading.
All that said, we get good questions all the time and are happy to respond when we can.
