by Steve Gleydura on
THE SANTA FE RAIL TRAIL sits just outside my front door. From Rodeo Road near our apartment, the paved path navigates a few gentle hills as it runs alongside the tracks used by the New Mexico Rail Runner Express toward Rabbit Road, where it turns into a winding dirt roller coaster that heads out toward Lamy. From its origin in the Santa Fe Railyard, it covers roughly 17 miles that can be cut into mini adventures or followed from beginning to end.
What I enjoy most about our little stretch of the trail, though, is its accessibility and versatility. On a recent 70-degree Sunday afternoon, I had the trail mostly to myself. Over the 2.5-mile hike, I encountered just one jogger, two bike riders, several lizards, and a multitude of grasshoppers.
As most hikes go, however, it’s hardly what you might call remote. You can hear cars whizzing by on I-25, and the views include medical and office buildings. But the wind whistling through the junipers and sage still sounds just as sweet as somewhere in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. On summer evenings after work, the trail is often populated with a jolly mix of exercisers, dog walkers, couples out for a sunset stroll, and the occasional Sky Railway train full of waving tourists.
It’s easy to take a trail like this for granted in New Mexico. (My AllTrails app can attest that I definitely have of late.) As this month’s “Find Your Way” cover feature demonstrates, however, there’s a trail out there for whatever moves you, whether you’re seeking an urban stroll, summiting mountain peaks, navigating a slot canyon, or following a historic path.
Thanks to New Mexico’s Outdoor Recreation Division, communities all across the state, and a host of dedicated organizations and volunteers, our opportunities to connect with nature—and each other—only seem to be growing. It takes a lot of miles on foot and investments in time and money to plan, construct, and maintain our trail systems. So I’m glad this issue also highlights some of those trailblazers and their efforts that go into making the outdoors more accessible and inviting for everyone.
As Cloudcroft’s Gary Truex, president of the New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association, points out, there’s a lot at stake. “I never get tired of going out,” he says. “That keeps me motivated, because I want my kids to be able to take their kids out on these trails.”