Advocates urge upgrades, clearer ratings for accessible trails in Los Alamos

Craig, a retired Los Alamos County open space and trails specialist, told the Inclusivity Task Force that Los Alamos currently has only a handful of routes suitable for people who need accessible surfaces or gentler grades and that several existing trails could be modified to improve access.

“the availability of truly accessible ADA compliant trails in Los Alamos is pretty limited,” Craig said, summarizing his review of the local network and recent projects. He said the community currently has about 3.8 miles of trails that meet his working definition of accessible, and identified several specific locations where upgrades or new construction could help more residents get outdoors.

Craig described the Canyon Rim Trail, a roughly 2.5-mile route he called “so close” to full accessibility where a relatively small amount of regrading could make it usable for wheelchairs and rollators. He highlighted the Kinnickinnic Park Trail as an example of a newly-designed ADA-accessible facility and said the trail around Ashley Pond has usable sidewalk access despite its short length. By contrast, the Canada Del Way Trail in White Rock — constructed in 1998 — has a hump in the middle and a bridge that Craig said measures about 3 feet wide, narrower than the 5-foot width he recommended for accessible circulation.

Craig also flagged the Urban Trail’s ramp as steep enough that someone rolling downhill could have difficulty braking, and said parts of the Los Alamos Mesa Trail and sections behind East Park (Pueblo Canyon Rim) would become far more useful with modest regrading and maintenance. He recommended benches at regular intervals with attention to seat height, and said that some existing bench heights make it hard for people with knee problems to stand up.

The presentation covered opportunities for new accessible routes as well: North Mesa and Guaje Mesa contain flat utility roads and open terrain that could add several miles of easier routes if funding and design work proceed. Craig suggested creating small, accessible “nature observation” areas — short, well-surfaced spur paths with seating and sensory features (audio, tactile exhibits) that could serve students on field trips and people with limited mobility.

Speakers during the discussion supported several practical measures: a locally tailored rating system to clarify grade versus length (Craig noted the current “spoon” system is opaque), use of QR codes or recorded materials at trailheads to provide accessible signage, and listing accessible features in trail apps such as AllTrails. Craig said public works has moved toward a resurfacing and bench-replacement effort on the Canada Del Way Trail and that a council resolution had been prepared to apply for a grant to replace the bridge and resurface parts of the route, but he cautioned the outcome depends on available funding.

Several commenters noted recreational conflicts and rules. One participant observed that, “Legally, the county trail network is for non-motorized use only” and others raised concerns about e-bikes, scooters and visibility on multi-use routes, recommending clearer signage to reduce user conflicts.

The presentation concluded with next steps Craig said he was pursuing as a volunteer: refining a brochure focused on accessible outdoor recreation, coordinating with the accessibility working group to develop a local trail-rating system, and supporting Master Plan and grant applications where feasible. He encouraged task force members to attend a master-plan working session for North Mesa to advocate for inclusion of an accessible loop.

Ending The task force did not take formal action on Craig’s recommendations at the meeting. Staff and volunteers said they will continue to coordinate design checks, minor maintenance, signage updates and grant strategies; public works and community services staff were identified as likely implementation leads for specific projects.