Pueblo trail concept. Courtesy/LAC

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Los Alamos County has always been known for its recreational offerings. With enhancing and expanding existing biking trails under consideration, the Community Services Department is working to enhance and diversify these offerings.

CSD Director Cory Styron listed the bike trail projects being considered:

• A seven-mile International Mountain Biking Trail in Pueblo Canyon,
• A connector trail that would allow bikers to travel from the roundabout on San Ildefonso Road to the Aquatic Center,
• A bike skills park in Pueblo Canyon,
• A six-mile National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) trail loop near the Y intersection on N.M. 502, and
• Improvements to an equestrian trail in Bayo Canyon near North Mesa stables.

Visit https://www.losalamosnm.us/government/county_projects/community_services_projects Pueblo to learn more.

Regarding all these proposed projects, Styron emphasized nothing is approved or finalized. A public meeting was held earlier this month about the projects and a second one was held Wednesday.

The purpose behind these projects is to enhance the County’s recreational offerings and trail opportunities, which are listed as actions under several Core Themes in the 2016 Los Alamos County Comprehensive Plan.

“The goal is to diversify and improve our recreational opportunities,” Styron said. “It’s about creating opportunities for our community, especially our youth. But if added, it would strengthen our biking and mountain biking offerings and educate residents about fun and safe use of multi-function trails.”

Here’s a breakdown of each project:

International Mountain Biking Trail
Styron said this recommended trail would be approximately seven miles and travel from behind the Aquatic Center, utilizing existing trails in Pueblo Canyon and ending at the Y on N.M. 502. He explained it would be improving the single track, dirt trail, to be about 18 inches wide. The trail would be designed to be mostly beginner friendly and suitable to families.

Styron described it as a “traditional mountain bike trail that is an opportunity to give residents and visitors a really nice trail through a scenic area in our community.”

Styron said the proposed trail is a compromise with the bike flow trail that was initially discussed in 2009.

“Based on the previous work, Pueblo Canyon is the only option for this trail,” he said.

He pointed out that many in the community did not support putting the trail in Bayo Canyon and Los Alamos Canyon because it is owned by DOE.

The pros for this proposed trail in Pueblo Canyon are the accessibility from town and the family-friendliness of the trail. The concerns include possible environmental and cultural impacts. Styron said the proposed location is home to the endangered Mexican Spotted Owl and the Jemez Mountain Salamander. There also are concerns about the soil. Plus, San Ildefonso Pueblo has raised questions about trespassing, impacts to cultural sites and the fact that the trail abuts areas where hunting is allowed. Others have voiced concerns about user conflicts between hikers and bikers.

To address some of these concerns, should the project proceed, Styron said the trail’s existing routing would be changed to ease user conflicts and accommodate habitats for endangered species.

Bike Skills Park
The proposed skills park would be located below the Aquatic Center. It would cover six acres and feature three trail lines that would offer differing skills people might encounter on a bike trail. Each trail would differ based on difficulty. One, identified as green, would be the easiest. Another, marked as blue, would be intermediate, and the final one would be black, as the hardest. The trails would include pump track-style features, professionally constructed wooden jumps and berms, and split logs.

The park would allow people to refine their skills in a relatively safe environment, Styron said.

Pueblo Canyon was chosen as a potential spot for the park due its accessibility to other trails as well as to the Aquatic Center, high school, teen center and nature center.

The concerns voiced about the park are the alternate use of the land and the possibility that it could host less than desirable activity. There have been comments about the park’s courses and nearby trails.

“Personally, I believe this location works well because it ties well to other locations and has good accessibility,” Styron said.

National Interscholastic Cycling Association trail loop
Styron said the proposed trail loop would extend 6.6 miles and would be located close to the Y on N.M. 502. He explained locally there are 50 members of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), an organization that develops mountain biking programs for student-athletes across the U.S. NICA also teaches the youth the importance of environmental respect and trail etiquette. The loop would offer this organization the chance to practice and hold competitions in Los Alamos. These competitions would promote tourism that is important for the local economy and businesses. NICA programs are gaining popularity in New Mexico; recently NICA qualified New Mexico to have its own competition region, Styron said.

“This trail loop would provide a competitive route and would be available to the community to use for the rest of the year,” he said.

Like the seven-mile trail in Pueblo Canyon, the loop would utilize existing trails and roadways. It would also offer a bike pit and space for spectators.

Since it would run along San Ildefonso land, there are concerns about potential impacts to cultural sites as well as the impacts the trail would have on the soil. Styron said he has had conversations with the Pueblo on how to mitigate these impacts, and more conversations will occur if the project moves forward. He added Pueblo officials have expressed interest in having its youth utilize the loop.

Connector Trail
The suggested connector trail, which would go from the roundabout at San Ildefonso Drive to the Aquatic Center, would give hikers and bikers the chance to travel from the north communities to the downtown. Styron said it would offer a safe and convenient route to getting around town without having to drive a vehicle.

Equestrian Trail Improvements
This existing trail runs through Bayo Canyon, behind the North Mesa stables and was created by the Youth Conservation Corps. Proposed improvements are to widen it for horses to pass each other and to address sections that are deteriorating.

All these projects are just ideas right now, Styron said. More feedback will be solicited before a presentation is made to the Parks and Recreation Board at a future date. That presentation will offer more concrete details including costs and the results of polls taken to gauge the public’s opinion on these projects. Ultimately, the projects will be presented to council for a final decision.

All opinions on these projects are valued and appreciated. The community is encouraged to attend the public meetings and provide input, Styron said.

“Our intention is to increase recreational opportunities for our community, while respecting the desires of our residents, our environment, and cultural aspects. We believe we can find a solution that meets all these objectives to develop something everyone can enjoy,” Styron said.