NM News and Updates
Southern NM & The Boot Heel – Southernmost Trailhead
The official route of the CDT was amended in 2005 to reach Mexico through the Big Hatchet Mountain Range. A Grand Opening Celebration was held near the community of Hachita in November, 2009 to dedicate the new 99-mile route and the new trailhead at the US/Mexico border. Volunteers and BLM staff constructed a shade shelter, picnic table, information kiosk, and registration box at the Trails southernmost point. Youth Corps crews worked with BLM staff to install trail markers, water cache boxes, and several new kiosks along the route. The entire section is built to class 1 trail standards, which means no tread. The Trail is marked with wooden posts, rock cairns, and CDT signs. With the exception of some planning still needed to find the Trail’s optimal location as it travels through the town of Lordsburg, the southernmost section of the CDT is now complete.
Southern Burro Mountains – 36-miles of new CDT are open in the southern portion of the Burro Mountains southeast of Silver City with more new construction being planned for this season. Elevation begins to climb as the CDT enters into new eco-zones. Vegitation changes from desert flora to mountain mahogany, juniper, and evergreen oak. As the trail climbs, more moisture and milder temperatures prevail in the park-like setting of ponderosa pines and mountain wildflowers. The trail follows along mountain ridges, winding in and out of rocky canyons and over mountain peaks. Total elevation changes in this segment are over 3,300 feet. Maps and more information are available at the Silver City Ranger Station.
Northern Burro Mountains -Beginning in Spring 2010, new trail will be constructed by Volunteers and Youth Corps crews to complete a major gap in the Trail through the Gila National Forest. This new trail will connect the Burro Mountains area to the main part of the Gila National Forest. The CDT will leave the Burro Mountains to the north, cross the Mangas Valley, and head east to skirt around the top of Silver City. Access for travelers to re-supply in town will only be a few miles down a Forest Service road. This new 28-mile section of trail is planned to be completed by 2013.
Aldo Leopold Wilderness -The CDT sticks pretty close to the actual Continental Divide and maintenance continues to be a challenge in some of the more remote sections on this stretch of the Trail. Natural wildfires, high-winds, and heavy storms batter the ridge along the Divide. Large, dead pines are constantly falling and tend to end up blocking the Trail. Several days of hiking and experience using a crosscut saw are necessary to clear the route each Spring. Views from the top of the Black Range along this section are spectacular and well worth the challenging climb.
Central NM
Continental Divide Wilderness Study Area -Over the past several seasons,Youth Corps crews and BLM staff have been installing trail markers, gates, and signs to improve this section of the CDT. The route sticks closely to the actual Continental Divide in this section and offers vast open plains that surround this area with pristine scenery. A favorite location for horseback riders, the Backcountry Horsemen have been doing a lot of maintenance and construction on this section.
Mangas Mountains – Another large trail construction project in the Gila National Forest will help to make the CDT connect to one of the friendliest trail towns on earth, Pie Town. 28-miles of new trail will replace the existing forest road-walk as it traverses the eastern ridge of the Mangas Mountains. On the way to Pie Town and after crossing a remote stretch of grass plains, travelers will pass by the new Top Of The World General Store, which offers camping, showers, laundry, internet, and groceries. It will take several years to construct this new route. Interim routes will be identified as the CDT begins to develop in this area.
Pie Town -A lot of planning, scouting, and exploring, are still needed in the Pie Town area. The preferred new route would go through the scenic and remote Sawtooth Mountains northeast of Pie Town in the Cibola National Forest. The Trail will continue through the Sawtooth’s to connect with the Cebolla Wilderness in the El Malpias National Conservation Area. As the CDT becomes more established through Pie Town it will continue to aid in the economic development and tourism of the community and also provide a source of healthy outdoor recreation for it’s citizens.
El Malpais -A collaborative project is still being planned to engaging the local community of Grants, the BLM El Malpias National Conservation Area, El Malpias National Monument, The Pueblo of Acoma, and the Cibola National Forest and CDTA to plan and construct a safe and scenic route for the CDT. The existing route follows busy highway 117 for more then 10 miles which is dangerous due to the high speeds and blind corners. The proposed plan is to create a system of loop trails to increase the recreation opportunities for residents of the Acoma Pueblo, the City of Grants, and the surrounding area that will aid in the economic development and health of these communities. The majority of thru-hikers are currently using forest roads that parallel one of the proposed new routes through the Zuni Mountains to avoid the walk along highway 117. In other areas of the Malpi, we have been getting excellent reports on the trail conditions and experiences encountered on the Chain of Craters and the Zuni-Acoma Trail sections of the CDT. Both of these sections make great day trips from the Albuquerque area.
Mt Taylor -The final 2 miles of new CDT through the Mt Taylor District of the Cibola National Forest was constructed by our Youth Corps this past October. The new 20+ mile route flanks the western ridge of Mt. Taylor as it winds through lush, forested canyon floors and wide-open mesa tops. On the northern end of this segment, the CDT joins a 2-track Forest Road that is seasonally closed to vehicles the majority of the year. The Forest Service will be going out to GPS the entire route soon so that more information about the new route can be made available. Plans are being made to install 3 new trailhead kiosks along the Trail within the Forest. A grand opening celebration is being planned in 2011, but the Trail is open and in great shape for hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers and snowshoers.
Northern NM
Cuba Area – We are working with the BLM and the Santa Fe National Forest’s in the final planning of the new CDT route in and around the Village of Cuba. It will eventually connect the Mesa Portales section on the southern end of Cuba to the Los Pinos Trailhead to the north, which is a gateway to the San Pedro Parks Wilderness. This project is also part of a larger planning effort initiated by the local community to develop the Step Into Cuba system of trails and connections to public lands in and around Cuba that will aid in the economic development and health of the citizens of Cuba. Learn more about healthy trails and the great things taking place in Cuba at www.StepIntoCuba.org.
Rio Chama -A major milestone was reached as Volunteers, Youth Corp Crews, and a Forest Service Trail Crew completed the final stretch of the CDT within the Coyote Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest. This new Trail connects the Santa Fe National Forest to the Carson National Forest and will eliminate a dangerous section along a winding high traffic forest road. After crossing thr Rio Chama, the new Trail will immediately climb north out of the canyon and on top of the mesa offering outstanding views of the brilliantly colored cliffs surrounding the Wilderness below. A new trailhead will be constructed in 2010 at the Skull Bridge river crossing to accommodate the expected extra vehicles once this section is officially open.
Cruces Basin Wilderness – Trail construction continues through the Carson National Forest. This was the first season that thru-hikers were encouraged to take the new route. I’m happy to report that everyone made it through with relatively few difficulties. Some sections of the new route use existing trails that will need to be reconstructed or improved to CDT standards. Other sections will be new trail construction where a route has already been flagged. When completed, the CDT will connect the Santa Fe National Forest to the Colorado border, entirely within the Carson National Forest. This has eliminated the more than 35 miles of road walking along busy highway 96. The scenic beauty in this southern portion of the Rocky Mountains will quickly become a highlight of the CDT in New Mexico. New trailheads will also be constructed to provide access and to promote the new route.