Powerline Mesa and Ancho Rapids view
| An easy hike near Los Alamos that ends with a nice view of the Rio Grande. On this hike, you get nice views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, Jemez Mountains and the Rio Grande. |
| Hike data | Waypoints | Maps | Getting to the trailhead | About the hike | Plants along the trail | Comments |
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| Date: | 2001-02-17 |
| Time it took us: | 2:15. |
| Usage (people/hour): | 0.00. We saw nobody else. |
| Cleanliness: | 9. |
| Waypoint | Type | Description |
| PLM4 | Scenic point | Vista point at end of Powerline Mesa trail |
| PLMPL2 | Trail point | Powerline Mesa trail meets large power line. |
| PLMPL | Trail point | Powerline Mesa trail intersect small power line |
| PLMTH | Trailhead | Los Alamos Gate 4 trailhead |
| PLMY1 | Trail junction | Powerline Mesa trail split to stay on mesa or go to Ancho rapids |
| Map name | Cartographer | Year | Scale | Topo map? | Online access | Notes |
| Albuquerque New Mexico | USGS | 1983 | 1:100000 | Y | from sar.lanl.gov (free) | |
| Guide to Indian Country of Arizona Colorado New Mexico Utah | Automobile Club of Southern California | 1998 | 1:0 | N | from Amazon (purchase) | Good overview road map for northwest NM. No scale is given on the map. The corner coordinates are approximate. |
| Los Alamos | BLM | 2003 | 1:100000 | Y | from Amazon (purchase) | |
| Santa Fe National Forest | US Forest Service | 2004 | 1:126720 | N | from Amazon (purchase) | West half |
| Wildernesses of New Mexico | US Forest Service | 1981 | 1:1000000 | N | No online copies. | Base map with national forests, wilderness areas and highways. |
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In White Rock (near Los Alamos), head southwest on NM 4. The gate is
about 3.3 miles form the intersection of NM 4 with Pajarito road.
You are looking for Gate 4.
| No image |
 | The trail gently descends from the trailhead. You get nice views almost
immediately. You are walking along a dirt road.
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 | At PLM4, you are at the end. Enjoy the view
and return the way you came, or pick a slightly different route. It is
hard to get lost.
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Plants we saw along the trail:
Reader comments about this hike:
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There is a good trail all the way to the river. I havent done this hike for some years but as I recall it took about 5 hours do make it from gate 4 to river and back carrying infants in backpacks. I remember that finding the trail wasnt immediately obvious once you get to the point where you can see the Ancho Canyon rapids, but the trail itself is very clear. I once saw a rattle snake in a juniper tree on this trail. Ive been told many times that rattle snakes dont climb trees. Someone needs to go down there and tell that snake. BE AWARE When hiking in White Rock Canyon and its side canyons be aware that there are MANY rattle snakes there. To find gate 4 start at White Rock and drive towards Bandelier. Gate 4 is a few miles up less than 4 miles on the left. If you go too far the road drops into the big canyon which I think is probably ancho canyon. Youve gone too far. Turn around and look for gate 4 on the right.