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    New Mexico, Usa

    Pajarito Mountain

    750 acres, 45 runs near Los Alamos. Founded by Manhattan Project scientists, Power Pass access.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    14 Dec 2025
    Closes
    8 Mar 2026
    Days open
    84
    Annual snow
    14ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Pajarito Mountain's summit reaches 10,440 feet, dropping 1,441 vertical feet to a base at 8,999 feet across 45 runs spread over 750 acres near Los Alamos, New Mexico. Terrain splits 50 per cent intermediate, 30 per cent advanced and 20 per cent beginner, with no expert-rated runs, and average annual snowfall of roughly 165 inches. The resort offers Power Pass access. Five lifts, including three double chairs and one quad chair, serve the mountain alongside one surface lift.

    Pajarito carries an unusual scientific pedigree: the ski area traces directly back to the Manhattan Project scientists and soldiers stationed at nearby Los Alamos during the Second World War. This origin gives the resort a distinctive place in ski history among New Mexico's mountains, alongside its more conventional identity today as a community-run, volunteer-supported ski area. Its terrain mix, weighted toward intermediate and advanced skiing, suits a broad range of visitors.

    In 1943, Los Alamos scientists and soldiers, many of whom had grown up skiing in the Alps, formed the Los Alamos Ski Club, with early members including Nobel laureates Enrico Fermi and Emilio Segrè, along with J. Robert Oppenheimer. The club first opened a modest ski hill at Sawyers Hill in December 1944, charging 7.50 US dollars a person for access to a single tow rope. As snow on Sawyers Hill grew unreliable, the club identified Pajarito Mountain as offering steeper runs, more terrain and more consistent snow.

    On 23 November 1957, the volunteer-built Pajarito Mountain ski area opened with two tows, double the vertical drop of Sawyers Hill, a beginner's slope and a narrow upper trail. Investor James Coleman acquired the ski area in 2014 in partnership with Los Alamos County, and the resort joined Mountain Capital Partners in 2018, combining continued volunteer involvement with professional management. Adult daily tickets run from 45 to 65 US dollars, with the Power Pass from 399 dollars.

    1,440ft
    Vertical
    45
    Runs
    750 acres
    Skiable
    14ft
    Annual snow
    The Terrain

    45 runs across 750 acres skiable

    Pajarito Mountain spreads 45 runs across 750 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 50%, with 9 beginner runs to find your feet and 14 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    45
    runs
    45 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner9 runs · 20%
    Intermediate23 runs · 50%
    Advanced14 runs · 30%
    Expert0 runs · 0%
    Time it right

    When to visit Pajarito Mountain

    The 2025-26 season at Pajarito Mountain ran from 14 December 2025 to 8 March 2026, one of the shorter seasons among New Mexico's ski areas at roughly twelve weeks. Average annual snowfall of around 165 inches supports this window, though the resort's season length can vary more than higher-snowfall New Mexico peers depending on annual conditions. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather.

    Midwinter, from January through February, typically offers the most reliable natural conditions across the resort's intermediate and advanced terrain. Given Pajarito's scientific-community origins and continued volunteer involvement, the resort retains a distinctly local character relative to New Mexico's more commercially oriented mountains. Weekend crowds draw primarily from the Los Alamos and broader northern New Mexico area.

    As a Power Pass resort under Mountain Capital Partners since 2018, Pajarito draws some visiting skiers holding that multi-resort pass in addition to its core Los Alamos community base. School holiday periods bring increased family visitation given the resort's intermediate and beginner-weighted terrain. The resort's origins within the Los Alamos Ski Club continue to shape its community-oriented programming.

    Specific event programming beyond standard lift operations is not confirmed in available resort information. The blend of volunteer involvement and Mountain Capital Partners' professional management, in place since 2018, continues to define how the resort operates each season. Pajarito's identity as a mountain built by scientists and volunteers remains a distinctive part of its seasonal character.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    14 Dec 2025
    Opens
    8 Mar 2026
    Closes
    84
    Days open
    14 ft
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Pajarito Mountain, and where to stay

    Pajarito Mountain sits near Los Alamos in northern New Mexico, with a base elevation of 8,999 feet and a summit at 10,440 feet across a 1,441-foot vertical drop over 750 acres. The resort sits within the Jemez Mountains, a volcanic range distinct from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains that host Santa Fe and Taos further east.

    Los Alamos itself is the nearest town, a small city built around the Los Alamos National Laboratory with a history directly tied to the ski area's founding by Manhattan Project scientists. Santa Fe, New Mexico's state capital, lies roughly 35 miles to the southeast, providing more extensive lodging and dining options for visitors. The surrounding Jemez Mountains offer additional outdoor recreation beyond skiing.

    New Mexico State Route 501 and local roads connect Los Alamos to Pajarito Mountain, with the resort a short drive from the town centre. Winter driving conditions on the approach can include snow and ice at elevation, though the route is well used given the resort's role as the community's local mountain. There is no direct public transport service to the ski area.

    Santa Fe Regional Airport, roughly 45 minutes away, is the nearest airport with commercial service, while Albuquerque International Sunport offers more extensive flight options a further drive to the south. Most Pajarito visitors are Los Alamos and northern New Mexico locals rather than fly-in destination travellers, consistent with the resort's community-rooted identity.

    Where to stay

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    Hotels and lodges near Pajarito Mountain, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

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    Pajarito Mountain Snow Report

    Snow Report
    Updated 4 Sept 2026
    10,440ft
    summit
    +0in
    new snow · last 24 hours
    Overcast51°F / 68°F · W 9mph
    Snowfall
    24 hours
    0in
    48 hours
    0in
    7 days
    0in
    Base depth
    0in
    Season total
    0in
    Total lifts5

    Live open status isn’t available right now.

    14 Dec 2025 - 8 Mar 2026

    Hour by Hour

    Next 45 hours· Updated Sep 4, 2026 at 6:02 PM
    FriNow10p11pSat12a1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9a10a11a12p1p2p3p4p5p6p7p8p9p10p11pSun12a1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9a10a11a12p1p2p3p4p5p
    Conditions
    Temp°F · feels
    6055
    5955
    5853
    5552
    5551
    5551
    5451
    5450
    5450
    5550
    5449
    5855
    6261
    6562
    6465
    6667
    6662
    7069
    6058
    6562
    6562
    6460
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    6359
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    5852
    5751
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    5752
    5854
    5753
    5447
    5348
    5450
    5550
    5652
    6259
    6563
    6865
    7169
    7370
    7368
    7167
    6966
    6764
    Snowfallin
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    Precip chance%
    10%
    7%
    4%
    3%
    2%
    2%
    2%
    1%
    1%
    1%
    1%
    1%
    1%
    1%
    2%
    5%
    10%
    16%
    25%
    26%
    17%
    8%
    5%
    4%
    6%
    3%
    3%
    2%
    2%
    2%
    2%
    1%
    1%
    0%
    2%
    2%
    2%
    2%
    2%
    2%
    32%
    32%
    32%
    32%
    32%
    Precipin0000000000000000000.000000000000000000000000000
    Wind / gustmph
    6G13
    6G11
    7G13
    6G11
    4G6
    4G4
    3G3
    3G4
    4G5
    5G6
    7G11
    3G6
    0G3
    4G6
    3G9
    4G7
    6G7
    5G6
    5G7
    4G8
    5G8
    5G7
    4G9
    2G7
    5G15
    8G15
    7G15
    6G10
    3G3
    2G3
    3G5
    8G9
    7G11
    4G5
    2G3
    3G3
    4G6
    3G5
    6G7
    7G8
    10G6
    9G3
    5G4
    5G5
    5G3

    Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo

    7-Day Outlook

    10,440 ftUpdated Sep 4, 2026 at 6:02 PMOpen-Meteo

    Days 1–7

    0.0"

    Days 8–14

    0.0"

    Unlock days 8–14

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    Fri, Sept 4

    Overcast
    Temp68° / 51°°F
    Snow0.0"(15%)
    Wind9 mph W

    Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.

    Understanding the Pajarito Mountain snow report

    Planning a day at Pajarito Mountain? Our snow report combines official mountain data with live weather so you know exactly what conditions look like right now, from the 2743m base to the 3182m summit.

    Snow measurements

    Our snow reports measure snowfall in centimeters over multiple time windows — last 24 hours, last 7 days, and the season total. Base depth reflects accumulation at the 2743m base area, while summit depth captures conditions 439m higher at 3182m, where snow typically stays colder and lingers longer. Imperial conversions are shown alongside for convenience.

    Weather conditions

    Wind and temperature swings matter as much as fresh snowfall. Cold, calm conditions hold snow quality well, while wind-loading or a warm-up can change things quickly — especially given the elevation spread between Pajarito Mountain's base and summit.

    Data sources

    We pull Pajarito Mountain's conditions from on-the-ground mountain reporting, then layer in forecast data so you get a fuller picture than either source alone. The mountain is served by 5 lifts, including a quad chairlift.

    When to check

    Snow reports are typically updated early morning and late afternoon. For the most current conditions, check back regularly, especially if a winter storm is approaching.