2017 Map of Guaje Mountain

About this map

Los Alamos sits atop a series of finger-like plateaus, its residential and institutional layout defined by the dramatic incisions of canyon geology. The town is flanked by numerous mesas, including North Mesa, Barrancas Mesa, Otowi Mesa, and Kwage Mesa, which are separated by deep drainages such as Bayo Canyon and Pueblo Canyon. This intricate network of level heights and steep descents dictates the path of local roads like Diamond Dr and San Ildefonso Rd. To the north, the terrain rises toward Guaje Mountain and the Santa Fe National Forest, where the landscape is carved by a dense series of canyons including Rendija Canyon and Chupaderos Canyon. This 2017 survey highlights the modern infrastructure of the area, from the Univ of New Mexico-Los Alamos Campus to the Los Alamos Airport, showing how the community has integrated into this complex volcanic topography.