Lying on the eastern flank of the Jemez Mountains, Los Alamos enjoys a mountain backdrop amid the orange cliffs of the Pajarito Plateau. The town spans three miles of the plateau, interrupted by deeply incised canyons that offer natural escapes within the town's limits.

Pueblo and Bayo Canyons provide the largest wooded section of uninterrupted open space in the County. A popular access point is through Acid Canyon at the Larry R. Walkup Aquatic Center on Canyon Road. The Western Perimeter area provides access to the Santa Fe National Forest above the townsite. Access can be found at the Quemazon and Mitchell Trailheads. Two undeveloped mesa top open spaces—Deer Trap Mesa and Kwage Mesa—offer outstanding vistas that take in the surrounding canyon, the Rio Grande Valley, and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. White Rock Canyon offers spectacular scenery, rugged terrain, and unparalleled opportunities for solitude.

Los Alamos County Open Space is open to non-motorized use only. Hiking, running, horse travel, and mountain biking are permitted on County trails.

The Los Alamos County Open Space Program oversees natural and cultural resources on County lands, implements fuel mitigation projects including maintenance burning operations, monitors stormwater runoff, provides educational opportunities for students to learn about fire ecology in ponderosa pines forests, and offers students hands-on projects that demonstrate sound environmental stewardship.