Exploring Los Alamos

At 11.1 square miles, Los Alamos is a compact community laid out over a few mesas. Most of the retail and restaurants lie between Canyon and Trinity Dr, and nearly all of the towns neighborhoods and important locations can be accessed quickly by bike, car, or even a quick hike.

For most people, living in Los Alamos is peaceful experience with great views and easy access to the outdoors, with the only real negatives coming back to the limited size and opportunities outside the Lab.

First thing first: Explore the nearby attractions and facilities to get yourself acquainted. There’s a Golf Course, two national monuments, a small but mighty ski area , plenty of trails that cut in and out of the canyons, and even a new brewpub!

Los Alamos Public Schools

Los Alamos is known throughout New Mexico for its outstanding public schools. Los Alamos High School, located at 300 Diamond Drive in Los Alamos, ranks as the fifth best high school in New Mexico, according to U.S. and News and World Report’s Best High Schools in the U.S. The New Mexico Public Education Department ranks Los Alamos High as the number one comprehensive public high school in the state. Total high school enrollment is about 890.

In addition to the high school, Los Alamos Public Schools consists of five elementary schools, one middle school, and one freshman academy. Schools are located in Los Alamos and White Rock.

Santa Fe Schools

Many people who work at LANL live in Santa Fe and commute back and forth. For LANL reloctors with school-aged children, here are some resources on Santa Fe schools:

Santa Fe Public Schools Santa Fe Public Schools serves the city of Santa Fe, as well as Eldorado and Tesuque. The district consists of 15 elementary schools, 5 K–8 schools, 2 middle schools and 2 high schools.

Santa Fe Public School Zones and Maps Public school zoning can change from year to year. Be sure to contact the district for the latest information on school attendance and zones.

Santa Fe County Private Schools Private School Review is the source of this comprehesive list of private schools in Santa Fe County.

Action-Packed Activities

Families with children can take advantage of activities that keep everyone active.

The Los Alamos Ice Rink at 2760 Canyon Road, is the only NHL-regulation, outdoor ice rink in New Mexico. The facility offers public skating, hockey, and skating lessons from mid-November through February.

The Los Alamos County Trail Network gets high marks as a beautiful series of trails that connect the various canyons, mesas and mountains. The trails are great for hikers and mountain bikers and are often used to connect between neighborhoods.

Pajarito operates as a ski area in winter and a bikepark in summer. When there’s good snow, you can bet the skiing is great as the slopes are very steep. Likewise, in the summer months, the mountain biking scene is fantastic with truly narrow and steep singletrack through big aspen stands and freeride features to make the most seasoned rider test their abilities.

Los Alamos County Park Facilities

When you’re winding down a day of house-hunting, the perfect place to cool off is at a Los Alamos County park. There are 13 in Los Alamos and White Rock from which to choose.

If you have young children, you will want to know where playgrounds and playlots are located. Los Alamos and White Rock have more than 15 between them.

With a 50-meter main pool, the Los Alamos County Aquatic Center offers swim lessons and other fitness programs for Los Alamos County residents. Located at 2760 Canyon Road in Los Alamos, the Aquatic Center is an internationally known training facility for swim teams from around the United States and the world, including Germany, Japan, and New Zealand. The center is the home of the Los Alamos High School Swimming and Diving Team.

Finding Culture in Los Alamos

The easiest way to find culture in Los Alamos is to simply head out the door. Historical sites run the gamut from museums to historic homes and settlements. Here are a few must-visit places:

Bradbury Science Museum at 1350 Central Avenue in Los Alamos, is a treasury of science history, with exhibits and artifacts on the once-classified Manhattan Project.

Bandelier National Monument preserves homes of the ancestral Puebloans from 1150 to 1600 A.D. At 50 square miles across the Pajarito Plateau, it’s a stunning sight.

Manhattan Project National Historical Park displays some of the remaining facilities in aiding the research and construction of the first atomic bomb.