Rio Grande Trail Updates and Fall Reflections
Dispatches from the NM Outdoor Recreation Division
ORD Newsletter | November 6, 2024
Dispatches from New Mexico's
Outdoor Recreation Division
In the Outdoor Recreation Division’s biweekly newsletter, find the latest on office and New Mexico’s outdoor recreation initiatives.
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Letter from the Marketing Coordinator
Greetings readers! Clocks have rolled back, trees and ocotillos are dropping their leaves and the desert is shifting to golden hues. As we move through the changing season, it's important to allow ourselves to slow down and make time for reflection. ORD would like to share some of our recent reflections with you about a very exciting long-distance trail project we have been involved in for the past two years.
In 2015, state legislation (HB 563) prioritized New Mexico’s vision of a 500-mile cross-state recreational trail along the Rio Grande and established the Rio Grande Trail Commission to oversee its development. A master plan was created in 2018, but the ambitious project lost momentum when the global COVID-19 pandemic hit.
The Rio Grande Trail corridor includes three national wildlife refuges, six national monuments, one national heritage area, and six state parks, touching nearly 10 counties and more than 22 cities or towns! The project aims to safeguard natural resources, respect land ownership and sovereign territories, and create a multi-use trail network that provides economic, recreational, and cultural value to the surrounding communities.
NM state legislature tasked the Outdoor Recreation Division with moving the Rio Grande Trail project forward. ORD contracted Pland Collaborative , a landscape architecture and community organizing agency out of Albuquerque, to pick up the conceptual trail plan and refine the alignment through community outreach, meetings with land management agencies and local governments to explore potential trail routes and partnerships and to discuss community needs.
If you'd like to receive updates on this project, sign up for the quarterly newsletter and join the Facebook group . Read the most recent newsletter and enter a photo contest for a chance to win a sweet Rio Grande Trail camp mug!
Stay wild!
Michelle Simon
Marketing & Outreach Coordinator
In Other News
The Association of Outdoor Recreation & Education (AORE) Seeks RFPs for 2025 Inclusive Summit
On April 24, 2025, AORE will host their virtual Inclusive Summit. They are seeking workshop leaders to host virtual sessions focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I). We'd love to see New Mexico's outdoor recreation DEI champions presenting at this summit!
Learn More
Business of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
Explore the economic impact of New Mexico's outdoor recreation at this inaugural event! Join Karina Armijo, director of the Outdoor Recreation Division, a presenting sponsor, and other industry leaders at Hotel Andaluz on December 5 from 11 AM to 1 PM for a dynamic discussion on how activities like skiing and ballooning drive our state's prosperity.
Get Tickets
New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Businesses Making Waves
The Outdoor Recreation Division's collaborative project, New Mexico Outdoor Ventures, celebrates leading entrepreneurs in the state's outdoor recreation industry through a series of editorial stories and photographs that go behind the scenes and connect readers to the vision, passion, and impact of local outdoor businesses.
Read the Stories
View the Press Release
NM State Land Office Agrees to Transfer 200+ Acres to Valle del Oro
“This expansion will add a bosque ecosystem that the refuge currently lacks and will provide crucial wildlife habitat for native and migratory species. The area also features a network of trails and offers essential space for outdoor learning programs, ensuring the long-term protection of public access.”
Learn More
Congress at Work on State Land Bills Package: NM Public Lands Could See Increased Protection
Senator Henrich and Representative Leger Fernandez have proposed protections for the Pecos Watershed and Heinrich, along with Representative Gabe Vasquez, have proposed protecting nearly 450 miles of outstanding rivers and streams through the M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
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Funding for Local Youth Internships Approved in Taos County
Taos County Board of Commissioners utilized remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for youth-to-adult career and business development services by partnering with the Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument to create work-based learning opportunities for local youth, helping them gain job skills and explore career pathways in the outdoor industry. Over the next two years, the Friends group will use these funds to provide employment for 14 young people with local outfitters, allowing them to work in fields they are passionate about.
Learn More
Trail Highlight
Paseo del Bosque
Albuquerque, NM
Piro, Tigua (Tiwa), Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute), Pueblos lands
About the Trail: 16 miles of multi-use trail provides users with a paved, uninterrupted trail system through Albuquerque's Rio Grande cottonwood bosque. Trail goers can enjoy picnic tables, public art, and easy access to the Rio Grande Nature Center, National Hispanic Cultural Center, and ABQ BioPark. There are lots of soft-section offshoots that can take users right to the edge of the Rio Grande for fishing and birding.
Know before you go: The trail has 7 established access points, with numerous parking lots, some with ADA-accessible parking. Dogs must be kept on a leash and the only formal restroom is at the Alameda access point.
Where to go after the hike: Head to El Pinto Restaurant if you wind up on the north side of the trail for fantastic chile ribs and margaritas, or swing by Barelas Coffee House for tasty breakfast and lunch fare if you find yourself near the midpoint of the trail.
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