Pajarito Mountain closes parts of ski hill for archery challenge
Pajarito Mountain will block walkers, hikers and mountain bikers from parts of the ski hill May 29-31 as a 3-D archery tournament takes over the terrain.
Portions of Pajarito Mountain and the Los Alamos Ski Hill will be off-limits to walkers, hikers and mountain bikers from May 29 through May 31 while the King of the Hill 3-D Archery Challenge is underway. Visit Los Alamos said the event will use parts of the ski hill and surrounding mountain area for safety reasons, and posted signs will direct the public and identify restricted areas.
The tournament is open to archers of all skill levels, giving the event a broader reach than a club-only competition. Pajarito Mountain’s calendar lists the event as “Archery Shoot” from 8 a.m. Thursday, May 29, through 5 p.m. Saturday, May 31, which sets the timing for when access changes will be in place. For anyone who planned to hike, bike or simply spend time on the mountain over the holiday weekend, the closure means checking routes before heading up.
Pajarito Mountain sits about five miles west of Los Alamos on the eastern edge of the Jemez Mountains, a location that makes it a regular recreation draw as well as a special-event venue. The ski area describes itself as a lift-served downhill mountain biking destination in addition to a winter ski hill, and its homepage shows summer programming already on the calendar, including Summerfest on June 6. That mix of uses is why temporary restrictions on one activity can ripple across several others at the same site.
Weather could add another variable. Pajarito Mountain’s conditions page, updated May 28 at 4:21 p.m., showed 59 degrees and a forecast calling for wind, with possible scattered thunderstorms over the holiday weekend. That means the event footprint will sit on a mountain that is already handling changing conditions while it also hosts archery traffic and limits public access.
The closure follows a familiar pattern at Pajarito, where event operations sometimes require keeping spectators and the public out of active areas. The mountain has previously announced similar restrictions for a New Mexico NICA biking event, underscoring that the ski hill is now managed as a year-round multipurpose venue, not just a winter destination. For three days, archery and safety controls will take priority on terrain that is normally open to broad public recreation.
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