White Rock Canyon Trailheads

Those who would like to enjoy views of White Rock Canyon without dropping to the river can choose to travel along the rim on the White Rock Canyon Rim Trail. The trail begins at the Blue Dot Trailhead and heads south for almost two miles to the viewpoint above Pajarito Canyon. Any part of this out-and-back trip leads to spectacular views into the canyon.

Length: 3.6 miles out-and-back
Elevation Gain: 150 feet
Fitness Level: Easy but rocky
Features: Views
Trail Surface: Packed dirt
Mountain Bike Skill Level: Intermediate

From the trailhead, head east toward the canyon edge. At the rim of the canyon, turn right onto the rim trail. Near the edge of an open field, travel the path along the rim. Many alternate trails lead to the right, and a few to the left, but if you parallel the rim you can’t go wrong. The trail makes many brief ups and downs, and in 1.8 miles reaches the edge of Pajarito Canyon, which enters the main gorge from the west. This viewpoint makes a good turnaround spot.

On the way back, hikers can take a challenging alternate route that begins about 0.2 miles from the overlook. This side trail descends below the canyon rim and stays on an attractive bench as it heads north. In about 0.3-mile, angle left toward the cliffs called The Playground by the climbing community. At the Playground, continue on the trail by scrambling over large boulders and through a narrow chute. The route quickly re-gains the rim. Turn right and retrace your steps back to the trailhead.

Download a map & description onto your mobile device: EveryTrail for the White Rock Canyon Rim Trail

One of New Mexico’s premier hikes is the Dot-to-Dot Loop in White Rock Canyon. The canyon is a spectacular gorge carved by the Rio Grande through lava flows from the Caja del Rio Plateau on the east side of the river.

This isn’t a trip for novice hikers or folks in slick-soled cowboy boots. The canyon is rough, the rocks sharp-edged, the trip fairly long, and the climb out is steep. The journey is about 7.8 miles requires an elevation loss and gain of 1,000 feet from the canyon rim to the Rio Grande. The trip normally takes a long half-day, but hikers should take time to enjoy the Rio Grande, and to watch for petroglyphs that adorn many of the rocks in the canyon. Take along plenty of water, food, sunscreen, and energy. The canyon is hot at mid-day in summer, but spring and fall are ideal times to explore the gorge.

Length: 7.8 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet
Fitness Level: Difficult
Features: Views, historic sites, springs, Rio Grande
Trail Surface: Packed dirt, asphalt
Field Notes: Foot traffic only

The name Dot-to-Dot Loop is derived from the two trails that provide access to this section of White Rock Canyon. The trails are uncreatively named for the color of spray-painted circles that mark the trails. The ancient Red Dot Trail, more formally the Pajarito Springs Trail, drops quickly to the small stream born from the springs of Pajarito Canyon and follows the stream to the river. The Blue Dot Trail, developed as a livestock passage in the 1930s, descends steep switchbacks to reach the river. Along the Rio Grande, the River Trail connects the dot trails, and on the rim, the White Rock Canyon Rim Trail parallels the gorge for two miles.

If you start at the Blue Dot Trailhead, head to the canyon rim from the trailhead and pass through an old fence to begin the descent. A half-dozen switchbacks bring you to a level bench, but the steep drop soon continues. After a mile, the trail enters a spring-fed thicket and meets the River Trail. Turn right and follow that trail for two miles, heading south. The Red Dot Trail is a few yards after crossing the strong outflow from Pajarito Springs. Turn right and follow the trail as it parallels the stream, crossing it once, for a few hundred feet, then begins the stair-like ascent of the canyon slope. It’s only a mile to the rim, but it’s a slow mile.

Meet Piedra Loop at the Red Dot Trailhead. Turn right and walk along the road for 0.4 mile. On the right, find a signed trail just before a guardrail opposite of La Senda Drive. The trail heads downhill on an easement between two houses. Cross Pajarito Canyon, and then pick up one of several trails that parallel the canyon rim, heading generally east. The White Rock Canyon Rim Trail is more defined at the edge of White Rock Canyon: turn left and walk the trail for 1.8 miles along the rim. After crossing an open field, take the trail to the right and it soon meets the Blue Dot Trail. Turn left and walk back to the trailhead.

Download a map & description onto our mobile device: EveryTrail for Blue Dot & Red Dot

If you choose to start at the Red Dot Trailhead, walk the trail across an open field. Soon after entering the woodlands, the trail begins its steep drop on rough basalt boulders. Two level benches break up the descent, which otherwise is relentless.

Length: 7.8 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet
Fitness Level: Difficult
Features: Views, historic sites, springs, Rio Grande
Trail Surface: Packed dirt, asphalt
Field Notes: Foot traffic only

About 0.7 mile from the start, the trail enters a thicket and emerges along the small stream flowing from the springs above. The trail parallels the stream for 0.3 miles. About 200 feet from the river, cairns mark several branches of the River Trail, which heads off up canyon to the left. Take any branch, cross the stream, and pick up the main River Trail.

Travel up the canyon on the River Trail as it ascends to a bench about 50 feet above the Rio Grande. The trail crosses open fields, woodlands, and traverses on narrow, rocky benches. About two miles from the Red Dot Trail, cross several wet areas and watch for rock cairns that mark the lower end of the Blue Dot Trail. Turn left onto that trail, which leads to the rim in about a mile. At the rim, pass through a fence and turn left onto the White Rock Canyon Rim Trail. Head south where many intersecting side trails come and go. Stay on the main trail, which never strays far from the rim. In about two miles, the trail comes to the edge of Pajarito Canyon, which enters the main canyon from the west. Bear right onto the trail that parallels the rim of Pajarito Canyon. In about 0.4 miles, watch for a sign post that points to a trail that crosses Pajarito Canyon and emerges onto Piedra Loop. Turn left and walk along the road to the trailhead.

Download a map & description onto our mobile device: EveryTrail for Blue Dot & Red Dot