Because Los Alamos sits high up on the side of the Jemez Mountains, there are many scenic drives and overlooks in the area. One of the most popular is White Rock Overlook Park, with its sports grounds, picnic facilities, and dramatic views of steep canyon walls carved by the Rio Grande.
White Rock Overlook Park contains a playground, five soccer fields, three youth baseball fields, and six softball fields, some of which are lit for play after dark. The overlook from which the park takes its name is perched on the edge of the recreation area above a huge gorge known as White Rock Canyon. It features a concrete platform with protective handrails and provides 270-degree views of the steep drop-offs.
Another popular aspect of White Rock Overlook Park is that it serves as the venue for the annual Los Alamos Kite Festival each May. Also found here is the trailhead for the Blue Dot Trail, a strenuous but short 800-foot descent into White Rock Canyon that covers 2.2 miles down and back.
One way to get to White Rock Overlook Park is to drive east out of Los Alamos on Trinity Drive (Highway 502) to Anderson Overlook and exit onto Highway 4 to White Rock. Continue south to the first traffic light and go left on Rover Boulevard. Signs from here will lead the way to Overlook Park. The White Rock Tourist Information Center is also located along Highway 4.
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