Honor Public Lands + Enhance Outdoor Access in NM
Dispatches from the NM Outdoor Recreation Division
ORD Newsletter | September 24, 2025
Dispatches from New Mexico's
Outdoor Recreation Division
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Letter from the Program Manager
Dear outdoor enthusiasts,
National Public Lands Day is a coming up on September 27 and is a celebration of a precious resource of immeasurable value and an opportunity to honor, appreciate, and protect our public lands. These sacrosanct spaces represent a shared treasure for all, feeding us, literally and spiritually. Renowned author Wallace Stegner once called our National Parks "the best idea we’ve ever had," a sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with.
National Public Lands Day not only encourages the enjoyment of these spaces but also promotes stewardship. The inaugural event took place in 1994, initiated by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF). On that first public lands day, 170,000 volunteers helped to maintain trails, clean trailheads, paint murals, and remove trash. Today, the need for such efforts is perhaps greater than ever.
If you enjoy outdoor activities — whether it's hiking, fishing, biking, climbing, swimming, or simply relaxing beneath a tree — we encourage you to join a local effort on National Public Lands Day. Check out the list of events below or visit neefusa.org/npld-event-search .
We also have a timely opportunity to enhance access to the outdoors here in New Mexico through the Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant program. These grants can fund far more than trail construction; they can be used to build outdoor classrooms at public schools, create reading gardens at libraries, or even build shade structures at parks. The current grant cycle closes on September 30 at 5 p.m . Apply at nmoutside.com .
As we celebrate National Public Lands Day, let’s remember that it’s not just about enjoying these lands, but also about preserving them for future generations.
See you on the trails, Carl Colonius
Program Manager
Outdoor Recreation Division
National Public Lands Day Celebrations + Volunteer Opportunities
Enjoy fee-free day use at all National Parks, National Monuments, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management recreation sites on September 27.
Sept 25-28: Black Range Backcountry Adventure , Gila National Forest
Sept 26: Camp OMDP National Conservation Lands 25th Anniversary Celebration , Las Cruces
Sept 27: NM Public Lands Day Celebration , Albuquerque
Sept 27: Volunteer Day , Valles Caldera
Sept 27: Pecos to Pecos Road & River Cleanup , multiple locations
Sept 27: Valles Caldera National Public Lands Day , Jemez Springs
Sept 27: Wild & Scenic River Restoration Project , Gila National Forest
Sept 27: National Public Lands Day Celebration , Bandelier National Monument
Sept 27: NM Off-Highway Vehicle Association Gordy's Hill Sign Installations , email Roger at prez@nmohva.org for details
Sept 27: Wilderness Project Day , Bandelier
In Other News
Executive Summary: 2025 Outdoor Participation Trends Report
New Mexico adds 2,224 acres for public outdoor fun in Colfax County
Outdoor rec pitch fest in ABQ seeks entrepreneurs
XTERRA World Championship returns to U.S. soil for 30th anniversary in 2026
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable to host National Executive Forum on Health and Outdoor Recreation
Get Involved
Adventure Pitch Fest
NM-based outdoor businesses of ALL sizes are invited to apply to showcase their services and products (no pitching required) or compete in the pitch battle for $15k in cash prizes (showcase space included) on November 6 in Albuquerque! Applications close on September 30, 2025 . Learn more at our info and Q&A session on Friday, September 26 at 12:15pm by registering at bit.ly/apfinfo2 . Tickets and applications available at bit.ly/adventurepitchfest .
Upcoming Workshops & Conferences
Sept 25, Oct 2: American Trails Advancing Trails Webinar Series , virtual
Sept 25-26: Governor's Conference on Economic Development , Pueblo of Isleta
Sept 30-Oct 2: Wildland Urban Fire Summit , Valencia
Oct 1: TOTAL NM's NM Outdoor Classroom Free Virtual Workshop Series , virtual
Oct 4: Lincoln Lecture Series: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife of Lincoln County , Lincoln
Oct 15: Estimating Recreational Visitation on Public Lands and Waters , virtual
Oct 16: Environment for the Americas Shared Spaces Webinar Series: Policies for the Birds , virtual
Nov 5-7: Regenerate Conference , Santa Fe
New Mexio State Parks Photo Contest
Show off the beauty, adventure, and unforgettable fun you’ve captured at New Mexico's State Parks. Enter by October 31, 2025 and compete for your share of $1,500 in prizes!
Race Events
For a list of running races visit runguides.com/new-mexico/runs
For a list of cycling races visit nmcycling.org
Oct 4: Road Apple Rally , Farmington
Oct 11: SVH 5K Walk/Run , Elephant Butte
Oct 11: Gila Monster Gran Fondo , Silver City
Oct 11: I Will Run for Them 5k , Albuquerque
Oct 19: Silver Lode Scramble – Pack Burro Race , Silver City
Oct 25-26: Day of the Tread , Albuquerque
Oct 31: Day of the Dead: Land Of Enchantment Backyard Ultra , Las Cruces
Nov 1: Deadman Peaks Trail Run , Cuba
Nov 2: Horny Toad Hustle , Las Cruces
Nov 8: Téenek 100 , Aztec
Nov 16: Jackalope MTB & Gravel Race , Doña Ana County
Volunteer Opportunities
For a list of NM organizations with ongoing volunteer opportunities, visit nmoutside.com/volunteer
Now-Oct 26: Adaptive Cycling Volunteers , Albuquerque
Oct 3-5: Rock Structure Building in Cebolla Canyon , El Malpais National Preserve
Oct 5: Diablo Canyon Crag Work Day , Santa Fe
October 18: Santa Fe Conservation Trust Restoration Workshop: Erosion Control Structures , Dovetail/Galisteo Basin contact melissa@sfct.org for more information.…