User-made trails that are not approved by the SFNF will be decommissioned and renaturalized. Courtesy/SFNF 

SFNF News:

SANTA FE — A recent uptick in illegal activities, such as unauthorized trail building and obstruction of official trails, has been occurring around Arroyo Hondo where there has been recent work establishing new system trails. Law enforcement will be monitoring these activities and issuing citations for continued infractions.

The SFNF has become aware of user-conflicts and illegal activities occurring at the end of Forest Road 79 near the Canada de Los Alamos neighborhood, some to newly constructed system trails.

Specific examples include:

• Unauthorized trail construction. This includes rerouting of approved trails as well as modification or establishment of illegal user-created trails.
• Blocking of official and approved system trails.
• Removal of flagging used by Forest Service-approved surveyors.
• Traveling on roads closed to the public.
• Installation of unapproved signage.
• Use of eBikes on non-motorized trails.
• Cutting and removal of timber without a permit.

The SFNF reminds the public that these activities can create resource damage that can negatively impact wildlife habitat and water sources, cause disturbance of historic and cultural sites, and pose hazards for approved recreational uses of forest lands. Persons blocking official system trails that cause injury or death to others may be held liable under law.

The laws state:

• All activities listed above are subject to citation under the Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR Section 261.12c Damaging and leaving in a damaged condition any such road, trail, or segment thereof) Also (36CFR Section 261.9a Damaging any natural feature or other property of the United States).
• Any violation of the prohibitions of this part (261) shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 or a mandatory appearance in federal court and/or imprisonment for not more than six months or both pursuant to title 16 U.S.C., section 551, unless otherwise provided.

The SFNF also reminds visitors to observe speed limits when traveling through the neighborhood accessing Forest Road 79.

In 2019, the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) began a partnership with the Santa Fe Fat Tire Society to address unmanaged recreational use at the end of Forest Road 79 near the Canada de los Alamos neighborhood. The forest aimed to convert old logging roads and user-made trails to official system trails to consolidate and manage visitor use.

The SFNF worked through the required policy procedures to approve a series of official system trails and in 2021 and 2022, Santa Fe Fat Tire Society volunteers and local youth converted old logging roads and user-made trails to official system trails using sustainable trail standards from the Forest Service and International Mountain Biking Association. In addition to creating these official system trails, the SFNF is currently undergoing planning to decommission and rehabilitate many illegal user-made trails in this area.

The SFNF is planning a community meeting in 2024 to discuss the new official system trails in this area, as well as address questions and concerns for expansion of this trail system as part of public comment under the NEPA process. A public notice will be sent out to announce the date and time for a community meeting.  Those with questions and concerns can contact the Pecos District Office at 505.757.6121.