Enchanted Circle Trails Plan

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The Trust for Public Land July 7

tpl.org

2 enchanted circle trails plan Table of contents

Preface...... 4

1. Introduction...... 8

2. Community input...... 18

3. Planning for trails ...... 31

4. Implementation...... 48

5. Conclusion: Looking ahead...... 61

Appendix 1: Participants...... 62

Appendix 2: References and Plans Reviewed...... 70

Appendix 3: Enchanted Circle Trail Development Framework...... 73

Online only appendices HTTPS://WEB.TPLGIS.ORG/TAOSTRAILS/ appendix A: Trail Planning Area Maps and Priorities appendix B: Resources for Trail Building and Design appendix C: Conservation Finance Report appendix D: Trust for Public Land Survey Report appendix E: Headwaters Economics Survey Report appendix F: Trails and ParkRx White Paper appendix G: Meeting Summaries

enchanted circle trails plan 3 Preface

Acknowledgments Hundreds of people contributed their time and passion to the Enchanted Circle Trails Plan. Nearly 190 people attended our community meetings, over 20 provided their expertise to our mapping and GIS team, and 30 got out in the field and helped us “groundtruth” proposed trails. Many hundreds more gave us their input through interviews and focus groups, community surveys, and outreach events. In addition to these community participants, this plan was made possible by generous support from the LOR Foundation; the Town of Taos; Taos County; the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program; Taos Land Trust; the Enchanted Circle Trails Association; and The Trust for Public Land. Headwaters Economics also provided valuable survey data on community perspectives and needs.

For more information, please contact: [email protected]

For copies of this report, please contact: [email protected]

4 enchanted circle trails plan Local Core Team KRISTINA ORTEZ DE JONES, Taos Land Trust CARL COLONIUS, Enchanted Circle Trails Association JOHN MILLER, Town of Taos Planning Department ATTILA BALITY, National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program Trust for Public Land Project Staff AMY WILSON MORRIS, PhD, Conservation Vision Program Manager FRED GIFFORD, Deputy Director of Conservation GIS LARA MILLER, GIS Project Manager GREG HINER, Southwest Director of Land Protection CHRISSY PEPINO, Conservation Vision Program Coordinator taos land trust

Heubeck conservation easement

enchanted circle trails plan 5 Message from Taos Land Trust Even in spectacular places like northern New Mexico, many kids spend nearly all their time inside. The average American child spends just four to seven minutes a day playing outdoors and up to seven hours a day staring at a screen. Research shows that trading outdoor time for screen time is bad for our minds and our bodies, and it’s particularly damaging to kids. Diabetes, attention deficit disorder, heart disease, depression, myopia, allergies, and asthma have all skyrocketed as we spend less and less time being active in nature.

Together we can reverse this trend. We can make it easier and more fun for kids and families to spend time outdoors. We can build trails and pathways that connect communities with nature and with each other. We can create safe routes to schools and to parks, so that local children and families can benefit from being active without access to a car. We can build close-to-home trails for people of all ages and abilities and make sure that all our local communities, especially our most vulnerable community members, have equitable access to trails and green space.

Through this Trails Plan communities in the Enchanted Circle are coming together to loudly and clearly express their desire for better access to trails and safe in-town opportunities for walking and biking. Seeing the passion and commitment of the participants in this planning effort has been inspiring. I have more hope than ever that we can come together and make Taos and the Enchanted Circle a place where our families thrive because everyone has access to the transfor- mative power of connecting to the outdoors.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

—Kristina Ortez de Jones, Executive Director, Taos Land Trust

6 enchanted circle trails plan Message from Enchanted Circle Trails Association Northern New Mexico has extraordinary natural assets, and the Enchanted Circle Trails Association is committed to using the Trails Plan as a guide to create alternative transportation infrastructure, enhanced signage and branding of trails, and easier access to recreational amenities. As a nonprofit organization, the Enchanted Circle Trails Association links multiple jurisdictions and user groups to a trail system.

—Carl Colonius, Enchanted Circle Trails Association

Message from The Trust for Public Land The Trust for Public Land is awed by the level of community interest and engagement in this trail- planning effort. Trails are a powerful tool for increasing quality of life and community health, and they are a critical element of The Trust for Public Land’s mission to “ensure healthy, livable communities for generations to come.” Trails can connect us to iconic landscapes and to community centers—from mountaintops to Main Street. If designed and sited carefully, trails can also help improve social equity. There’s a tremendous opportunity in the Enchanted Circle right now to bring together diverse groups to ensure equitable access to safe in-town routes for biking and walking and spectacular backcountry routes to some of the most beautiful and iconic landscapes in the world. We are thrilled that this Trails Plan can be part of making this vision a reality.

—Greg Hiner, Southwest Director of Land Protection, The Trust for Public Land

enchanted circle trails plan 7 1. Introduction

THERE IS VERY STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORT jurisdictions, agencies, and community for expanding trails in the Enchanted Circle. groups in the study area. Hundreds and hundreds of local community 4. This Trails Plan is a living document members provided input for this plan over that will evolve over time and can be the past two years—and expressed widespread adapted for local priorities. Along consensus on the need for more close-to- with this report, local partners can use a home access to trails. The Enchanted Circle web tool (http://web.tplgis.org/taostrails) to Trails Plan represents an inventory of current analyze proposed trails and further refine trails and a shared vision for the future. It their priorities. This plan will evolve over provides a blueprint for a comprehensive, time as community priorities and trail cohesive, and connected trail system that can opportunities change. improve quality of life and community health 5. The partners in this Trails Plan throughout the Enchanted Circle. respect private property rights. Any trail access through private lands must be A few key things to know about this plan: well planned and well maintained—and 1. This plan addresses a wide range developed through engagement with and of trail types. It includes planning for respect for landowners. Many of the trails off-road, natural surface hiking and biking proposed in this plan represent general trails; on-road or separated bike lanes; and trail corridors and not specific trail align- multiuse paved pathways. All user types are ments. Specific alignments will always be included (walk/hike, road bike, mountain negotiated with appropriate landowners— bike, ski, horseback, off-road vehicle, etc.). including public agencies—and will go 2. The trails included in this plan serve through all necessary approval processes. a wide range of purposes. Trails that can increase safety for pedestrians and About the Enchanted Circle cyclists are a particularly high priority. The Enchanted Circle gets its name from the Trails identified as high priority link Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway. The byway neighborhoods, schools, and businesses; loops through the spectacular mountains, connect locals and visitors to the iconic valleys, mesas, and forests of northern New landscapes of the region; and provide Mexico and circles Wheeler Peak, the highest close-to-home access to the outdoors. peak in the state at over 13,000 feet. This 3. This Trails Plan is conceptual. This Trails Plan includes the entire area within the means it outlines a vision, preliminary Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway and extends priorities, and strategies for implementa- east to Eagle Nest and the Colin Neblett tion, but leaves additional assessment and Wildlife Management Area; west to include site-specific planning to the many local the Rio Grande Corridor from the Taos Valley

8 enchanted circle trails plan Overlook; north to the northern boundary of a major draw for both tourists and residents. the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument; Statewide recreation contributes $3.8 billion and south to include Carson National Forest annually to New Mexico’s economy and trails north of State Highway 518. See Figure 1 supports 47,000 jobs throughout the state. for a map of the study area. Taos Ski Valley alone contributes between $13 million and $14 million annually. The study area for the Enchanted Circle Trails Plan covers 1,310 square miles. It includes Through this planning process, partners portions of four counties (Taos County, Colfax mapped 987 miles of existing trails and 1,590 County, Mora County, and Rio Arriba County) miles of existing roads throughout the study and over 362,000 acres of federal public lands area. The plan proposes to eventually add managed by the United States Forest Service nearly 400 miles of new trails. These existing and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). and proposed trails are shown in Figure 2. The plan area includes the towns of Taos, Arroyo Hondo, Arroyo Seco, Questa, Red River, There are stark contrasts within the Eagle Nest, Village of Taos Ski Valley, and Enchanted Circle. There are longtime Hispano/ Angel Fire. In addition to the federal lands Hispanic and Native American communities managed by the Forest Service and the BLM, with rich local cultures and histories—and the study area has over 9,800 acres of land there are high rates of poverty, diabetes, and owned by the State Land Office, over 36,000 obesity. Many local communities have very acres managed by the New Mexico Depart- limited access to close-to-home trails and ment of Game and Fish, and over 280,600 outdoor recreation. There is also an influx of acres of private land. Taos Pueblo lands within wealthy second-home owners attracted by the Enchanted Circle are not included in this the climate, renowned local arts scene, open Trails Plan. space, and an increasing number of world- class opportunities for hiking, biking, river The towns and wild landscapes of the rafting, horseback riding, mountain climbing, Enchanted Circle are culturally and ecologi- hunting and fishing, and skiing. Community cally rich and diverse. In addition to Wheeler outreach results show big differences in how Peak and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, different populations use local trails and there is Eagle Nest Lake, the Rio Grande major disparities in access to close-to-home Gorge, Taos Mesa, and rich farmlands that trails between high- and low-income areas. have been irrigated for hundreds of years using traditional acequia systems. Nearly 50 miles of the Rio Grande pass through the study area. Access to public lands and outdoor recreation in the Enchanted Circle area are

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April 26, 2017. Copyright © The Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land and The Trust for Public Land logo are federally registered marks of The Trust for Public Land. Information on this map is provided for purposes of discussion and visualization only. www.tpl.org

figure 1 Special thanks to the following data providers: Town of Taos, Taos Land Trust, and Enchanted Circle Trails Association. Copyright © The Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land and The Trust for Public Land logo are federally registered marks of The Trust for Public Land. Information on this map is provided for purposes of discussion and visualization only.

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August 4, 2017. Copyright © The Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land and The Trust for Public Land logo are federally registered marks of The Trust for Public Land. Information on this map is provided for purposes of discussion and visualization only. www.tpl.org

figure 2 Special thanks to the following data providers: Town of Taos, Taos Land Trust, and Enchanted Circle Trails Association. Copyright © The Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land and The Trust for Public Land logo are federally registered marks of The Trust for Public Land. Information on this map is provided for purposes of discussion and visualization only.

enchanted circle trails plan 11 About This Plan for implementation but leaves additional This region has a long history of thinking assessment and site-specific planning to about and planning trails. The Town of Taos the many local jurisdictions, agencies, and adopted a Trail Plan in 2002 and a Bicycle community groups in the study area. Along Master Plan in 2009. Angel Fire has worked with this report, local partners can use a web extensively with community members to tool (http://web.tplgis.org/taostrails/) to analyze plan local trails. A local trails group surveyed proposed trails and further refine their the community about interest in trails in priorities. 2014. The BLM has the Taos Resource Area/ The Trust for Public Land’s Planning and Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River Corridor GIS team helped the community evaluate Plan and the Rio Grande National Monument 155 trail segments proposed by community Plan—both of which include trails—as does members in order to come up with a tiered the Carson National Forest Management Plan. list of trail priorities. The project team devel- There has also been (and continues to be) oped community-based metrics for evaluating statewide planning for a Rio Grande Trail. trails, including equity and access, feasibility, Elements from all of these previous plan- current use, and potential community health ning efforts have been incorporated into the benefits. The proposed trails were analyzed Enchanted Circle Trails Plan. and prioritized based on both quantitative and This plan is uniquely ambitious. It covers a qualitative characteristics and divided into very large area and is intended to facilitate three tiers—with Tier 1 being the highest- cooperation among many user groups, orga- priority trails. Community stakeholders nizations, jurisdictions, and land managers. evaluated many versions of trail maps as the Many hundreds of community members plan evolved over the past two years—finally provided input for the Trails Plan through leading to the conceptual map presented in surveys, community meetings, interviews, this report. focus groups, and outreach events. This plan This plan represents a long-term vision for the combines this community input with state- study area. There are 23 overall Tier 1 priority of-the-art geographic information system trails covering 135 miles. The Enchanted (GIS) mapping and modeling. It identifies Circle road-biking priorities include 17 road the highest-priority areas for connecting and segments covering 164 miles. There are also expanding both in-town and backcountry trail priority trails for each of the 13 trail planning systems and for making road improvements areas. Within planning areas, local communi- to increase safe opportunities for walking ties can develop new priorities over time with and biking. As noted above, the Trails Plan an emphasis on equitable access, diverse trail is conceptual. This means that it outlines a types, or other factors as appropriate. vision, preliminary priorities, and strategies

12 enchanted circle trails plan This Trails Plan was developed to (1) determine This plan is not a means to acquire land community priorities for new trails; (2) inven- through eminent domain, but it should help tory existing trails in the Enchanted Circle developers and planners identify priority trail area; (3) identify missing links within the opportunities that would benefit the commu- existing trail system; (4) focus attention on the nity most. This plan should be considered a benefits of trails and build additional public living document, and it should evolve as new support for trails; and (5) develop strategies funding sources and community priorities for implementing the community’s priorities. change over time. jeff muglestonjeff

Continental Divide Trail La Manga

enchanted circle trails plan 13 nina anthony

Gold Hill Trail, Taos Ski Valley

Community-Based Vision, Vision Principles, and Goals We envision a vital and thriving The following vision, principles, and goals for Enchanted Circle region where the Trails Plan were developed by the core an accessible system of in-town team and community meeting participants. and backcountry trails connects all residents and visitors to our unique landscapes, cultures, and recreational opportunities.

14 enchanted circle trails plan Guiding Principles trail plan that guides future trail development efforts and that and Goals facilitates cooperation among land managers, property owners, and 1. Close-to-home trails are central diverse stakeholder groups. to improving quality of life in Goal: Engage community leaders the Enchanted Circle region. Trails and funders who can provide increase health and wellness and support, guidance, and resources connect community members to for the development and long-term the outdoors and to each other. maintenance of public trails and Goal: Identify new priority trails for pathways. a variety of user groups and skill 4. New trails should be designed levels, including seniors, youth, to respect traditional agricul- and those with disabilities. tural use, important cultural and 2. Trails for walking, cycling, and historical places, sensitive habitats other forms of active trans- and wildlife, and other conservation portation bring communities priorities. together by connecting neigh- Goal: Implement the Enchanted borhoods, businesses, parks, and Circle Trails Plan in coordination schools. These connective trails with the Taos County Community should be considered and integrated Conservation Plan and develop a into our overall transportation system. web tool that helps to identify routes Goal: Identify active transporta- that limit impacts on sensitive habi- tion routes, including in-town and tats and other important areas. backcountry trails that connect 5. A coordinated, well-maintained, communities to each other and and well-marketed trail system that provide access to unique local can provide economic benefits to cultural, historical, natural, and local communities by attracting local recreational features. users, tourists, and new businesses. 3. Trail planning and development Goal: Use the Trails Plan to promote should be done in collaboration awareness of local trails and their with public agencies and private economic benefits. landowners and should be driven 6. Stewardship of the trails system by community priorities. Trail plan- should be the shared responsi- ning should be an inclusive process; bility of users, local communities, everyone should have opportunities and land managers. to provide input and get involved. Goal: Use the trail-planning process Goal: Engage diverse community to build connections among local involvement in creating a vision for residents, user groups, and public an interconnected trail system for agencies. Develop a shared vision the Enchanted Circle. that all these groups are committed Goal: Develop a community-based to implementing.

enchanted circle trails plan 15 Benefits of Trails designed to guide users away from Trails have enormous and wide-ranging vulnerable areas. benefits1, including: 10. Trails increase sense of place and shared community identity. 1. Close-to-home access to trails increases physical activity—particularly for communities with limited access to “Trails are essential to healthy safe opportunities for outdoor exercise communities. Youth participating or recreation. in Field Institute of Taos programs 2. Trails increase opportunities for both are out on trails every day. Access recreation and active transportation. to nature is something everyone 3. Exercising outdoors on trails reduces stress and improves attention. deserves and needs. Trails serve 4. Exercising outdoors on trails enhances to build the bridge that connects overall mental well-being. people to each other and to the 5. Thoughtfully designed trails provide local environment, freeing us to opportunities for physical activity explore the world and form unique for a wide range of people, including perspectives of what is beautiful children, seniors, and those with and valuable in our community disabilities. 6. Trails improve quality of life by and the world. Trail access helps providing gathering places and inspire stewards of the environ- increasing social connections. ment who view nature as sanctuary 7. Trails benefit local economies by as well as an opportunity for drawing visitors and new businesses growth, recreation, and education.” and increasing property values. —SUSIE FIORE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 8. Trails connect important community FIELD INSTITUTE OF TAOS hubs (schools, parks, businesses, hospitals, churches, libraries, and community CLOSE-TO-HOME ACCESS TO TRAILS INCREASES centers) and revitalize towns. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND EXERCISING OUTDOORS 9. Trails showcase culturally and ecolog- REDUCES STRESS, IMPROVES ATTENTION, AND ENHANCES OVERALL MENTAL WELL-BEING. Trails ically significant areas—and can be can play a big role in improving community

1 For more information on the benefits of trails, see the Headwaters Economics Trail Benefits Library (https://headwaterseconomics. org/economic-development/trails-pathways/trails-research/). Citations for the benefits described here are listed in Appendix 2: References and Plan Reviews.

16 enchanted circle trails plan health by providing convenient opportunities TRAILS CAN BENEFIT LOCAL ECONOMIES BY for physical activity—including safer recre- DRAWING VISITORS AND NEW BUSINESSES; ation and commute routes for pedestrians, CONNECTING COMMUNITY HUBS AND REVI- cyclists, and underserved communities. TALIZING TOWNS; AND INCREASING PROPERTY Increasing physical activity is one of the most VALUES. Drawing visitors can benefit local powerful things people do to improve health restaurants, grocery stores, entertainment and and prevent chronic diseases. It can help art venues, campgrounds, hotels, tour-guiding prevent stroke, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, services, and gear stores. Destination trails can heart disease, falls and hip fractures, depres- be an especially big draw for tourists. Gallup, sion, and certain types of cancer. Studies have New Mexico’s High Desert Trail System now shown that the benefits of trails are most attracts 32,000 users a year from outside the significant in rural places with limited park community, generating millions of dollars resources and among people, including low- per year for local businesses. Studies have income families, who are at the most risk of shown that nearby trails can also substantially low physical fitness. Studies have also shown increase property values. savings in health care costs in several commu- TRAILS CAN GIVE PEOPLE A SENSE OF PLACE AND nities and states as a result of residents being SHARED COMMUNITY IDENTITY AND PRIDE. Trails active on trails. can help celebrate local heritage and preserve TRAILS CAN DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE QUALITY OF the unique features that make a commu- LIFE FOR AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING nity special. Trails play a role in responsibly SPACE FOR SOCIAL CONNECTIONS. Trails can guiding visitors away from sensitive habitat provide residents a safe place for recreation as areas and vulnerable cultural sites. Trails well as an opportunity for alternative trans- are an excellent way for residents to express portation to and from school, work, church, the local character and culture of their or other gathering places. Research shows area and can provide tremendous sense of that accessible close-to-home green space place—especially trail corridors with partic- encourages better ties among neighbors. ular historical or cultural significance, such Thoughtfully sited and designed trails can as trails throughout the Petroglyph National provide space for users of all ages and abilities Monument or the Healing Waters Trail in to recreate and engage with other community Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, a three- members. Research shows that spending time mile loop trail that connects the historic Hot outdoors on trails provides social benefits Springs District, the Rio Grande and adjacent by providing opportunities to see neighbors, wetlands, and Veterans Memorial Park. meet friends, and develop community connections and pride.

enchanted circle trails plan 17 2. Community input

MANY HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS people attended community meetings, over 20 PROVIDED INPUT FOR THE TRAILS PLAN through provided their expertise to our mapping and surveys, community meetings, interviews, GIS team, 21 participated in interviews and 80 focus groups, and outreach events. Over in focus groups, and 30 got out in the field and 730 people learned about the Trails Plan at helped us “groundtruth” proposed trails. Many outreach events, and over 300 participated hundreds more gave us their input through in poster activities. Nearly 1,050 people community surveys and outreach events. responded to community surveys. Almost 190 johnny and pam macarthur

Quemazon Canyon

18 enchanted circle trails plan Trails Plan at a Glance patrice gallagher Number of people who Approximate number of people who participated in the got out in the field to help speak-out poster activities “groundtruth” proposed trails 30 300

Engagement Timeline

Online Community Community Community Community July 2015– Sep.2015– community Nov. 2015 Apr.2016 Sept.2016 meeting #1 Feb. 2017 meeting #2 Dec.2015 survey Focus groups meeting #5 meeting #6

Interviews Speak-outs Community Community Presentation at local Sep.2015– meeting #3 Jan. 2016– meeting #4 to elected July 2015 Sep. 2015 Aug.2016 Nov.2016 events Jan. 2016 Feb. 2017 officials

Number of community members who attended at least one Number of people who out of the six community meetings participated in 190 community surveys 1,050

enchanted circle trails plan 19 Key Findings that they are within a 10-minute (or less) walk to trails or public lands. Some of the key findings from community Access issues are especially acute for outreach are summarized below. Most low-income and Hispanic residents. of these are discussed in greater detail in the survey results; however, the final • Close-to-home trails and organized two findings come from a combination of programming such as walking programs survey, interview, and community endorsed by health care providers meeting input. as well as trail-based programs for kids may be especially beneficial for • There is very strong support for Hispanic respondents. expanding the trail system in the Enchanted Circle. Between 73 and 86 • The priorities and the needs of longtime percent of those surveyed support residents and newcomers or visitors are expanding the trail system and only 5 often different. Longtime community to 7 percent do not support expansion. members want increased access to the outdoors, but there is also significant • Trails are an essential part of daily life concern about the impacts of increasing for many residents. Two out of three recreational use—particularly by tourists. residents used trails in the last year, and more than half of residents’ weekly • Local governments, resource agencies, physical activity occurs on trails. recreation and community groups, and active and engaged residents need to • Improving safety is the highest priority work together closely on trail priorities. for investing in trails. There is strong Local governments and local nonprofits support for more off-road/separated have very limited resources. Reliable paths for cyclists and pedestrians. funding and local capacity-building will be critical for implementing the • The study area needs more close- Trails Plan. to-home access to trails. Just over a quarter of survey participants indicated

20 enchanted circle trails plan Speak-Outs community meetings helped map existing Nearly 300 people participated in interac- and proposed trails; identified goals and tive tabling activities in September through guiding principles; discussed trail evaluation November of 2015. The poster activities metrics; and discussed potential obstacles to captured community priorities for both trail development and helped develop the conservation and trails. A total of 736 people implementation plan included in Section 4. participated in speak-outs and other outreach See online Appendix G for the full summaries events at Taos Farmers Market (September and from each of the six community meetings. October 2015); San Geronimo Day (September Focus Groups 2015); and at Cid’s Market, Rocky Mountain The Village of Angel Fire Pedestrian Trails Youth Corps, Taos Ancianos Lunch, Elevation Committee and the Moreno Valley Trekkers Coffee, and Super Save Market (November examined new trail priorities in and around 2015). People who were unable to participate the village boundaries. The group saw new in poster activities were given postcards opportunities for nearby motorized recreation with information about the online on New Mexico state trust land and additional community survey. Carson National Forest trail systems utilizing Community Meetings abandoned logging road networks. Taos Land There were six community meetings for the Trust also conducted focus groups addressing Enchanted Circle Trails Plan. Three of these trails and trail use with members of a local were joint meetings that also incorporated health council, local youth, and parents at a stakeholder engagement for the Taos County local childcare center. Community Conservation Plan. Nearly 190 Community Surveys community members, representing a wide Taos Land Trust partnered with The Trust for range of organizations and interests, attended Public Land and Headwaters Economics on at least one of the meetings for the Enchanted two community surveys to collect public input Circle Trails Plan. The kickoff meeting for on trails in the Enchanted Circle. Because the the plan was held at the KTAOS Solar Center two surveys covered many of the same topics in July 2015. Subsequent meetings were held and key themes were very similar, the results at Valverde Commons (September 2015), the of the surveys are discussed together below. Talpa Community Center (November 2015), Full survey reports are available in online the Juan I. Gonzales Agricultural Center (April Appendix D (Trust for Public Land survey) 2016), the Town of Taos Council Chambers and online Appendix E (Headwaters (August 2016), and the Mabel Dodge Luhan Economics Survey). House (November 2016). Participants in the

enchanted circle trails plan 21 methods and participation the Enchanted Circle. Only 5 to 7 percent of Outreach for the survey led by The Trust for respondents do not support expanding the Public Land included posting survey infor- trail system. Support for expanding the trail mation on the Town of Taos and Taos Land system was slightly lower, but still very high, Trust websites and social media channels, among Hispano/Hispanic respondents. and in a weeklong wallpaper ad in the online version of the Taos News. Taos Land Trust and “Riding my bicycle in the others in the core team also reached out to Enchanted Circle is sacred to me. the Questa Economic Development Fund, Taos It strengthens my body, clears my Entrepreneurial Network, Taos Chamber of mind, and renews my spirit. I am Commerce, University of New Mexico faculty, forever thankful to have such an Taos Charter School, Rocky Mountain Youth amazing place to ride, alone or in Corps, Taos Health Council, Alianza Agri-Cul- tura, and community leaders in Angel Fire. groups, and feel completely free.” Postcards advertising the community survey —MATTHEW FOSTER were distributed at the speak-out events current trail use mentioned above, and survey information Many local residents use trails daily or almost was posted on community bulletin boards daily; two-thirds of respondents used trails in Questa. Paper surveys (and postage-paid in the last year. According to the Headwaters return envelopes) were distributed at Ancianos survey, 67 percent of respondents have used and at Super Save Market. The survey URL local trails in the last year. In the Trust for was also included in utility bills for the Kit Public Land survey, the most common trail Carson Electric Cooperative, Inc. The survey activities were wildlife viewing, dog walking, led by Headwaters Economics was mailed to a and hiking/walking/running on dirt paths. random sample of 3,000 residents. The 3,000 In the Headwaters survey, respondents indi- residents included homeowners and renters, cated that they walk or hike on unpaved trails voters, and residents who are not registered to over nine days per month on average during vote. The Headwaters poll also had an online the summer. The activities that respondents open-link version, which was shared via the participated in least were snowmobiling, Taos Land Trust’s social media channels. hunting, road biking for transportation, support for expanding the trail system off-road vehicle use, and horseback riding. There is very strong support for expanding According to the Headwaters survey, Hispanic the Enchanted Circle’s trail system. Between respondents and low-income respondents are 73 percent (Headwaters) and 86 percent (Trust less likely to use trails, but those Hispanic and for Public Land) of survey participants support low-income respondents who do use trails expanding the trail and pathway system in

22 enchanted circle trails plan TABLE 1. COMMUNITY SURVEYS ON TRAILS IN THE ENCHANTED CIRCLE

Trust for Public Land Survey Headwaters Economics Survey

Focus Trails and Conservation—joint survey Trails Only—focus on community health with the Taos County Conservation impacts on local economy Plan

Survey Type Online (and hard copy) Mail-back and online

Timing September 2015 to January 2016 January 2016

Responses 655 364

Gender 55% male 65% female

Ethnicity 14% Hispano/Hispanic 55% Hispano/Latino/Spanish origin

Disability 8% have a family member with a 8% have a household member with a disability disability

Age 41% age 61 and up; 10% age 35 29% under age 45; 20% age 65 or and below older

Income 40% have household incomes 55% have household incomes below above $75,000; 18% under $50,000; 18% earn $100,000 and $25,000/year above

Residency 47% have lived in the region for 46% have lived in the Enchanted more than 10 years Circle for more than 20 years

Weighting Key results were weighted by Data weighted by age and ethnicity ethnicity to ensure appropriate Hispano/Hispanic representation

enchanted circle trails plan 23 figure 3 trail use (trust for public land survey)

use them just as often as non-Hispanic and time (17 percent of trail time for Hispanic high-income respondents. Forty-five percent respondents versus 6 percent of trail time of Hispanic respondents have used trails in for non-Hispanics). Hispanic respondents the previous year compared to 87 percent also generally get less of their overall phys- of non-Hispanics. There is also a signifi- ical activity on trails or pathways (47 percent cant difference in use between highest- and versus 63 percent for non-Hispanic respon- lowest-income respondents, with 81 percent of dents). There is no difference across income or the highest-income respondents using trails in location of residence in the share of physical the previous year compared to 49 percent of activity that occurs on trails or pathways. the lowest-income respondents. Cross-country skiing is less common, and horseback riding, hunting, foraging, and Hispanic respondents are significantly more ATV use are more common among Hispanic/ likely also to use trails as family outing Hispano residents than Anglo residents.

24 enchanted circle trails plan Current Trail Access In contrast, 51 percent disagreed with this Many residents do not have easy access to statement. Participants noted that loose dogs local trails from their homes. Headwaters (53 percent) and heavy traffic (47 percent) were survey participants were asked to estimate potential barriers to trail access in their neigh- how much time it would take them to walk borhoods. Only 10 percent said that bike lanes to a path, trail, or park from their home. Just are close to their home. over a quarter indicated that they are within a 10-minute (or less) walk to trails or public Hispanic respondents were significantly less lands. Twenty percent said it would take 11 to likely to live within a 10-minute walk of a 20 minutes, 17 percent 21 to 30 minutes, and park or trail (20 percent of Hispanics versus 22 percent more than 30 minutes. Only a third 39 percent of non-Hispanics) and are less (32 percent) of respondents agreed with the likely to agree with the statement “I am able statement “I am able to easily walk to one or to easily walk to one or more trails, paths, or more trails, paths, or parks from my home.” parks from my home” (24 percent of Hispanic

CASE STUDY 1

Community Health Needs Assessment, rates of Prescriptions for morbid obesity, chronic diabetes, and chronic Better Health at Taos obstructive pulmonary disease are much higher than the national average, while the rates of people Parks and Trails with regular vigorous exercise and healthy eating In spring of 2017, Taos Land Trust, in partnership habits are lower than average. Furthermore, a with El Centro Clinic, Headwaters Economics, the survey of medical providers at El Centro Clinic National Park Service, and The Trust for Public Land, found that the majority of providers think one of began discussing the feasibility of implementing the primary barriers to discussing healthy lifestyles a ParkRx program for Taos residents. Taos Land is inadequate information about healthy lifestyle Trust hosted a kickoff meeting by convening programs in the community. local stakeholders to discuss the connection By identifying Taos-specific health assessments between resident health and parks/trails in Taos. and seeing what ParkRx has done for other Prescriptions for health is a national strategy that communities, it is apparent that nature, parks, and has been implemented in communities around the public lands can be used in tandem with guidance United States to improve public health, known as from health care providers to help improve both ParkRx. ParkRx programs are a coordinated effort individual and community health. ParkRx can also among health care providers; parks, trails, and land play a role in providing additional programming agencies; and community organizations like land that doctors can refer to for healthy living. Taos trusts and social services. Land Trust is working to convene professionals in There is a significant need to promote greater the health, education, recreation, and parks sectors physical activity among Taos residents. According to prescribe better health using parks and trails. to the Holy Cross Hospital’s most recent

enchanted circle trails plan 25 figure 4 trail satisfaction by trail type or use (trust for public land survey)

respondents versus 40 percent of non-Hispanic current trail satisfaction respondents). Hispanic respondents also are Residents are generally satisfied with access to significantly less likely to have wide road unpaved walking and hiking paths and very shoulders, sidewalks, or bike lanes within dissatisfied with safe opportunities for road a 15-minute walk of their home (31 percent biking. Both surveys showed the highest levels of Hispanic respondents versus 56 percent of satisfaction with current opportunities for of non-Hispanic respondents). Low-income hiking and walking on unpaved paths. The respondents also are less likely to live within Trust for Public Land survey also showed high a 15-minute walk of places with wide shoul- satisfaction with opportunities for wildlife ders, sidewalks, or bike lanes (19 percent of viewing, and the Headwaters survey showed lowest-income respondents versus 54 percent high satisfaction with hunting and fishing of highest-income respondents). access. Both surveys showed lowest satisfaction with road-biking opportunities; on the

26 enchanted circle trails plan CASE STUDY 2

The Taos Land Trust has been working with health Rio Fernando Trail care professionals and others on a “Prescription The Taos Land Trust completed the purchase of the Trails” program for Taos County, which will benefit 20-acre Rio Fernando Park at the end of 2015. Now local residents who suffer from diabetes, high that the land has been purchased, the Land Trust blood pressure, and other ailments; the trail has taken proactive measures to survey the trees leading from Fred Baca to the Rio Fernando Park in the urban forest, monitor the health of the river, will more than double the size of the existing park and plan for the future use of the property by the and give locals and visitors alike another oppor- public. tunity to recreate close to their homes or hotels in the town of Taos. The Taos Land Trust has been engaged in discus- sions with the town of Taos, local nonprofits, and This type of community-focused activity is new for the Taos community about how to put this new the Taos Land Trust, which has historically focused property – which consists of more than 13 acres of on creating conservation easements on private irrigated agricultural lands and approximately 7 lands rather than responding to community needs. riparian acres on both sides of the Rio Fernando With the help of the Taos County Community in Taos – to the best public use. The Land Trust Conservation Plan and the Enchanted Circle envisions community agriculture and public trails Conceptual Trails Plan, the Taos Land Trust will be connecting to Fred Baca Park, which is owned able to help make Taos a healthier, happier, and and managed by the town of Taos and which is more prosperous place. adjacent to the Land Trust property.

Headwaters survey road biking received an biking, excessive motorized use, and a need average score of 1.9 on a scale of 1 to 5—with 5 for more trails. indicating the highest level of satisfaction. The other activities with the lowest scores were Trails, and the access they provide to outdoor transportation to work or school (2.0) and recreation and public lands, are an important opportunities for wheelchair/mobility-assisted part of why many residents choose to live device (2.3). Respondents who are generally in the Enchanted Circle. According to the satisfied with the trail system mentioned Headwaters survey, the following are highly access to beautiful scenery, adequate main- important to respondents’ decisions to live in tenance, cleanliness, and variety as positive the Enchanted Circle: qualities of the trails network. Those who feel • Outdoor recreation (4.4 average rating; dissatisfied overall identified poor conditions/ 89 percent provided a 4 or 5 rating) maintenance, lack of signage, lack of bike • Access to rivers and streams (4.2 average; lanes/shoulders, dangerous conditions for road 81 percent)

enchanted circle trails plan 27 • Access to public lands (4.2 average; of respondents selected improved trailheads 75 percent) (33 percent) and trails closer to their home • Area trails and paths (4.0 average; (32 percent). Respondents were also asked to 67 percent) identify programs that would most encourage them to use trails more frequently. Most Increasing Trail Use commonly mentioned was more free time Safe separation of bikes and pedestrians (40 percent of respondents), followed by from traffic would increase trail use the most. organized activities such as walking clubs/ The Headwaters survey asked respondents guided hikes/events (29 percent) and mini- to identify infrastructure improvements that mizing conflicts between different types of would encourage them to use the trail system users (23 percent). more in the future. Over half of respondents cited safe separation of bikes and pedestrians Close-to-home trails and organized program- from traffic such as sidewalks, wide shoul- ming such as health care provider–prescribed ders, and bike lanes (51 percent). This was by walking programs and trail-based programs far the top infrastructure improvement that for kids may be especially beneficial for would encourage more usage. Roughly a third Hispanic respondents—who currently use

CASE STUDY 3

communities as well folks that are visiting.”—Carl Old Blinking Light to Colonius, Enchanted Circle Trails Association

Arroyo Seco Trail NM 150 is a state road that connects the commu- “A trail along NM 150 connecting the Old Blinking nities of Arroyo Seco, Valdez, El Salto, and Light to Arroyo Seco will be a tremendous asset Des Montes to the Town of Taos. Above these to the community. Arroyo Seco is the gateway to communities is there are year-round recreational the mountains, and a destination unto itself, with opportunities with world-class skiing at Taos Ski great restaurants and shops. Right now, the only Valley, hiking to the highest peak in New Mexico, safe way to visit is by vehicle. There is no shoulder Wheeler Peak, and mountain biking at Northside along NM 150 to speak of, so walking or riding at Taos Ski Valley. The route is an important next to speeding traffic is very hazardous. We did connector of local community members to major extensive community outreach and survey work, recreational and cultural destinations and will and determined a stand-alone hard-surfaced trail also be a prime non-motorized recreation trail for was what community members wanted. Now, the visitors. Taos Pueblo Peak and the historic Taos Enchanted Circle Trails Association is working with Pueblo is east of the 4.5 mile route, providing Taos Pueblo for an easement, and are planning breathtaking views all year long. a trail that benefits the Tribal population, local

28 enchanted circle trails plan carl colonius

Old Blinking Light Trail

trails less. Hispanic respondents (45 percent) prescribed walking, and trail-based programs are significantly more likely to prioritize for kids. Investing in trails development having trails closer to where they live than suitable for a prescription trails program, or are non-Hispanic respondents (25 percent). for family outings, may be effective in encour- Hispanic respondents (36 percent) are signifi- aging use among Hispanic residents. cantly more likely to prioritize hospital- or health care provider–sponsored wellness Trail Investment Priorities programs such as a prescribed walking Improving safety is the highest priority for trail investments. According to the Trust for program than are non-Hispanic respondents (14 percent). There is also greater support Public Land survey, the highest priority (by a among Hispanic respondents (29 percent) for large margin) for trail investments is creating trail-based programs for kids than among new pathways that would improve safety. non-Hispanic respondents (11 percent), The second priority is long, connected road although this difference is not statistically cycling paths. The survey also asked partici- significant. These results indicated that pants to identify specific areas where bike and programming related to trails could be pedestrian improvements are needed. Survey especially beneficial to Hispanic community results indicate that the top three priorities members. Programming could include orga- for roads that need new bike lanes or multiuse nized hikes, walking clubs, wellness programs paths are (1) Town of Taos to Ranchos de run by health care practitioners such as Taos; (2) Town of Taos to Old Blinking Light

enchanted circle trails plan 29 intersection; and (3) KTAOS to Arroyo Seco. math and science skills of participating Participants also expressed a strong desire students to encourage them to pursue college for walking and hiking paths along (1) Paseo degrees in STEM (science, technology, engi- del Pueblo; (2) Ranchitos Road; and (3) U.S. neering, or math) subjects. The program Highway 64 from Taos to Angel Fire. supports up to 60 eligible low-income students (9th- and 10th-grade) who are potential Youth Engagement first-generation college students. The UBMS In November 2015 and December 2016, local students were provided training in interview Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) techniques and then asked each other, other Program students conducted 14 interviews peers, and their family members questions with each other and with other local young about a variety of topics, including time spent people ages 14 to 18. Eight UBMS students also outdoors with their families. Most inter- participated in field verification of proposed viewees said that they enjoy spending time trails in July 2016. outdoors with their families and pets, and The University of New Mexico Taos UBMS many feel especially connected to Kit Carson Program works with low-income high school and Fred Baca parks—particularly the nature students and is designed to strengthen the trail at Fred Baca.

INTERVIEW SPOTLIGHT

“The first time my sister took me hiking “One special memory is from the time at Williams Lake with the dog, it was I went hiking near Red River. I liked difficult, but it was honestly one of the being there because it’s a beautiful best feelings in the world.” place, and nature is relaxing.”

—EXCERPT FROM THE UPWARD BOUND —EXCERPT FROM THE UPWARD BOUND INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED IN FALL OF 2016 INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED IN FALL OF 2016

30 enchanted circle trails plan 3. Planning for trails nina anthony

Entrance to Rio Fernando Park

THIS TRAILS PLAN PRIORITIZES 155 TRAIL with and respect for landowners. Many of SEGMENTS covering 394 miles for the overall the trails proposed in this plan represent planning area. In addition, there are desig- general trail corridors and not specific trail nated priorities for specific trail planning alignments. Specific alignments will always areas. Individual communities could also add be negotiated with appropriate landowners— ranking criteria and reevaluate suggested including public agencies—and will go priority trail segments. Local partners can use through all necessary approval processes. the web tool for the Trails Plan (http://web. tplgis.org/taostrails/) to analyze proposed trails Trail Planning Areas and further refine their priorities. Trail planning areas are portions of the overall Trails Plan study area where related Respect for private property rights is central trails are grouped together for the purposes to this plan. Any trail access through private of planning, development, and marketing. lands must be well planned and well main- The current trail planning areas are listed tained—and developed through engagement below. These areas were designated early in

enchanted circle trails plan 31 the trail-planning process, and several contain also many opportunities for horseback a very limited number of proposed trails. riding, hunting, and ATVs in this area. Planning areas are shown in Figure 5 . Maps • carson national forest north and of each planning area are included in online taos ski valley. This area has popular Appendix A. After each planning area map high alpine trails, including Italianos in this appendix is a table showing the trails Trail, Gavilan Trail, Long’s Canyon, Bull of included in that area and the metrics that the Woods Meadow, and one of the most were used to evaluate the trails. popular trails in the region, the hike to Williams Lake and then Wheeler Peak—the • angel fire. Anchored by the village of highest point in New Mexico. Northside at Angel Fire and the Angel Fire resort and Taos Ski Valley provides fee-based access to lift access trails, this area also has access mountain biking on private land. to the Carson National Forest Camino Real • carson national forest south camino District trails, including a trailhead for the real. Carson National Forest South South Boundary trail. includes high peaks and rolling meadows • arroyo hondo. The Rio Hondo connects with mile after mile of mixed-use trails, Wheeler Peak and Taos Ski Valley to the Rio including the epic South Boundary Trail, Grande. Many opportunities for fishing are the lesser accessed North Boundary Trail, along this stretch, and hiking and moun- and the Woodpile Trail. tain-biking trails are abundant. There are

CASE STUDY 4

Hogan’s Heroes bicyclists and hikers who are partnering with the U.S. Forest Service to improve trail connections, For residents and guests that aren’t adrenaline increase usability, reduce user conflicts, and create junkies, the Village of Angel Fire, through the new trail information such as way-finding signage. efforts of volunteer groups like the Moreno Valley Trekkers, has been developing and improving the During the summer of 2016, Hogan’s Heroes Angel Fire Greenbelt System that can be used contributed 120 hours of volunteer service to for mountain biking, cross-country skiing, hiking, improve the greenbelt trails. These local mountain snowshoeing, and horseback riding. bikers are excited to achieve immediate returns on their investments by improving trails. These local Fortunately, Angel Fire Bike Park employees see trail volunteers envision the Angel Fire trails system the benefits of expanding the local trails network connecting into the national forest trails system – so everyone who lives in or visits Angel Fire can an important component of the Enchanted Circle have a great trail experience. Hogan’s Heroes Trails Network. has emerged as the “can do” group of mountain

32 enchanted circle trails plan UT CO OK

AZ NM

Rio Grande UV522 Corridor TX North ME X IC O Upper e d Red n a Questa River r

G Cerro

o i R Upper Moreno Valley

Carson National TAOS SKI Forest North and VALLEY Taos Ski Valley Wh e e le r Pe a k Wi ld e rne ss Arroyo ¤£64 Hondo and ¤£64 Arroyo Seco Eagle Nest

E N C H A N T E D C I R C L E West Mesa S C E N I C B Y W A Y Developments

Angel Fire TAOS Rio Grande ANGEL Corridor FIRE South

Town of Taos UV567 and Surrounding Development

Taos Valley Camino Real Overlook District - CNF South UV120 COLFAX COUNTY MORA COUNTY UV68 UV38

R T IO A O A 518 R S UV R C Planning area Wilderness (USFS) IB O A U Enchanted Circle Other Forest Service C N O T Scenic Byway U Y BLM N T County boundary Y State Tribal 0 2.5 5 Miles ± PPlanninglanning aareasreas EENCHANTEDN C H A N T E D CIRCLEC I R C L E TRAILST R A I L PPLANL A N

May 9, 2017. Copyright © The Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land and The Trust for Public Land logo are federally registered marks of The Trust for Public Land. Information on this map is provided for purposes of discussion and visualization only. www.tpl.org

figure 5 Special thanks to the following data providers: Town of Taos, Taos Land Trust, and Enchanted Circle Trails Association. Copyright © The Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land and The Trust for Public Land logo are federally registered marks of The Trust for Public Land. Information on this map is provided for purposes of discussion and visualization only.

enchanted circle trails plan 33 • eagle nest. This area is in the east side of • upper red river. Wild and remote, with the Moreno Valley, with access to the Colin Bobcat Pass a high point on the Enchanted Neblett Wilderness and Eagle Nest Lake Circle road, this system has access to State Park. Wheeler Peak Wilderness through the Lost • questa/cerro. The village of Questa links Lake Loop, the historic Big Ditch, and the the Latir Peak Wilderness to the Wild and high alpine lakes of the Red River’s head- Scenic River Corridor of the Rio Grande. waters. There are also designated ATV areas This area has high-altitude hikes, commer- north of Red River. cial horseback riding, and excellent fishing. • west mesa. With gravel roads and • rio grande corridor north. This area outstanding views in the western wild, this is a BLM recreation destination with access area also has hidden canyons, petroglyphs, to natural springs, seasonal boating, and excellent wildlife viewing, and extensive remote fishing. opportunities for solitude. • rio grande corridor south. The Rio Grande is crossed by three bridges in this Field Verification system—Taos Junction Bridge, the Rio During the spring and summer of 2016, Grande Gorge Bridge, and John Dunn 30 volunteers helped field-verify, or Bridge. Trails connect all three crossings to “groundtruth,” over 100 of 155 trail segments create beautiful river views with access to proposed by the community. Proposed trails hot springs and excellent fishing, kayaking, were divided into segments designated by the hiking, biking, and rafting. GIS team from The Trust for Public Land in • taos valley overlook. This area includes consultation with local experts. Each segment the southwestern tip of the Enchanted was given a code based on its trail planning Circle. The BLM’s Taos Valley Overlook area. Volunteers were trained to conduct trails are flowy single-track mixed-use trails field verification at the April 2016 commu- with two developed trailheads that network nity meeting, and subsequent trainings were the mesa top to the Rio Grande below, provided by Taos Land Trust at its offices and linking to the Orilla Verde Recreation Area. at a community field verification event on • town of taos and surrounding area. July 23, 2016. Field verification volunteers had The Town of Taos is the population center access to an online resource hub with field of the region. This area has the only verification maps, forms, and instructions. existing bike lanes on the west side of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The purpose of groundtruthing was to iden- • upper moreno valley. Long stretches tify “hot spots” (either positive or negative) of open meadows leading to high timber along each proposed trail segment corridor. dominate this system, and the Enchanted Volunteers were asked to score the trails for Circle roadway bisects the system. viability, user experience, and community

34 enchanted circle trails plan CASE STUDY 5

Bobcat Trail pavilion, and tennis courts are located. Along the way, the trail connects to both Deer and Elk Bobcat Trail has been a great addition to the Angel trails. The Village coordinated with New Mexico Fire trails system. The local community was able to Department of Transportation and Angel Fire build this trail with the help of a grant from the New Resort for easements to construct the trail. Rocky Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Mountain Youth Corps came out and built Bobcat Department. The trail connected several existing Trail—with the help of many local kids who came trails together. There were a number of people out and volunteered their time. Local young people and groups who came together to make Bobcat were especially excited about creating a trail that Trail happen. The Pedestrian Trails Committee would leave a lasting legacy in the community. This suggested the building of this trail to run from youth-built trail is now one of the best-used trails in town to Olympic Park, where a pond, playground, the Angel Fire area.

health impacts. They were also asked to Trail Evaluation Criteria identify special opportunities and notable impediments for each trail. User experience Priority trails were identified through analysis scores were especially important in assessing of accessibility; proximity to parks, schools, trails because it is not possible to determine and hospitals; user experience; feasibility; the sights, sounds, and general feeling of community health benefits; public prefer- being on a particular trail from available GIS ence; and current use. Trail evaluation took data. On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the into account available GIS and census data; highest score, 30 segments received an overall input from community engagement; and score of 5; 33 received a 4; 47 received a 3; 13 detailed information from field verification of received a 2; and 5 received a 1. These field proposed trails local volunteers. Metrics repre- verification scores factored into the evaluation senting all these factors were developed by criteria discussed below but did not directly The Trust for Public Land’s GIS and Planning determine whether a trail ended up in Team with input from the core team, the Tech- Tier 1, 2, or 3. nical Advisory Team, and community meeting participants. Among the criteria described below, community meeting participants felt

enchanted circle trails plan 35 that accessibility was most important followed Prioritized Trails by user experience, proximity, and feasibility. As noted elsewhere in this report, some of the trail segments prioritized here are very • accessibility/close-to-home. Segments general trail corridors. The preliminary list of that are closest to where people live— priority trails is the result of analysis using the particularly low-income residents, children, trail evaluation criteria described above. Addi- and seniors—are rated highest. tional planning will be required for specific • proximity. Segments closest to important alignments, and local areas may have different community destinations such as parks, priorities than those listed here for the overall schools, and hospitals are rated highest. planning area. The web tool for the Trails Plan • user experience. Based on field verifica- can be used to assess these local priorities. tion scores. • feasibility. More feasible segments have For the purposes of prioritization across the fewer stream crossings; cross fewer private overall planning area, five segments between properties; cross less sensitive habitat; and the Town of Taos and Taos Ski Valley have have lower than average slope. This score is been combined. Areas that need road improve- also based on field verification assessment ments for increased walking and cycling of feasibility. safety within the Town of Taos have also been • community health benefits. Based on combined in the overall list of priorities in local health expert input and field verifica- Table 2. There are 23 high priorities in Tier tion scores. 1 (with Town of Taos road improvements • public preference. Based on input from combined); 32 medium priorities in Tier 2 (54 the Trust for Public Land–led commu- segments); and 43 lower priorities in Tier 3 (47 nity survey and community meeting trail segments). Priority road improvements participants. for the Town of Taos are shown in Table 3. • current use. Strava data were used to Tier 1 trail priorities are shown in Figure 6 . determine current pedestrian and biking Town of Taos road improvements are shown use. Strava data show crowd-sourced usage in Figure 7 . statistics collected primarily by cyclists, hikers, and runners using the Strava smart phone app. The Strava data provided valuable insight on frequency of use for existing and proposed trails. • safety. Safety data was analyzed using the Average Annual Daily Traffic estimates for the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway road biking priorities.

36 enchanted circle trails plan TABLE 2. TIER 1: OVERALL PRIORITIES

1. Town of Taos Road Improvements (see Table 3) 13. Community Center Trail (AF22)

2. Bike Lane to Taos Ski Valley (AH23b) 14. Single Track Connector, Elliot Barker (AF33)

3. KTAOS to Arroyo Seco (AH23a) 15. Enchanted Circle Road Bike Trail—Taos to Angel Fire (AF9)

4. Talpa Traverse (CRD1) 16. Proposed Access to USFS Land #1 (AF1)

5. Angel Fire San Juan Loop (AF32) 17. Angel Fire Road Loop (AF3)

6. Middle Fork Lake to the Bavarian (CNFN27) 18. Barbara Dry Flagge Mountain Trail (URR6)

7. Angel Fire Road Improvement #1 (AF10) 19. Alternate Hiking and Mountain-Biking Route from Questa (QC3)

8. NM150 Connector (AH23) 20. Forest Road 441 Bear Wallow Connector (CRD21)

9. The Big Ditch—Upper Red River (URR3) 21. Elliot Barker Access from Brazos Road (AF20)

10. Proposed Access to USFS Land #2 (AF2) 22. Los Cordovas Rio Grande del Rancho Arroyo (TOT14)

11. Angel Fire Olympic Park to Frontier Park 23. Talpa Traverse Connector (TOT9) (AF31)

12. Forest Road 441, Bear Wallow Loop (CRD19)

enchanted circle trails plan 37 Tier 1 trail priority Tier 2 or 3 trail priority Planning area Questa Cerro Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway County boundary La tir Pe a k Wi ld e rne ss Wilderness (USFS) Rio Grande Other Forest Service Corridor North BLM State e d 522 Tribal n UV AF22 a r

o i R Upper Red River 3

C Q

3 Co l umb i ne -H o nd o R R

Wi ld e rne ss U Carson National Upper Forest North and Moreno 7 Valley Taos Ski Valley 2

N F

TAOS SKI N VALLEY C

b Wh e e le r Pe a k Arroyo 23 Wi ld e rne ss ¤£64 H Hondo and A Arroyo Seco Eagle Nest Co l in ¤£64 Ne b le tt WM A 3

a 2 West 3 H Ta o s Mesa A 2 H Pu e b lo Developments A La nd s E N C H A N T E D C I R C L E S C E N I C B Y W A Y Town of Taos and Surrounding Development Angel Fire

AF33 0

TAOS 1 F 2 F1 A F 2 A AF22 A 3 TOT14 F ANGEL FIRE Rio 9 A RANCHOS AF AF31 Grande F20 DE TAOS 1 TOT9 A Corridor South D 567 R UV C A F3 Ca rs o n Nat io na l 1 Fo re st Taos Valley 2

Overlook R Camino Real C District - 38 CNF South UV C R 19 D UV120

UV68 COLFAX COUNTY MORA COUNTY

The Trust for Public Land’s Planning and GIS team helped the

R community evaluate 155 trail segments proposed by community T IO A 518 O UV members in order to come up with a tiered list of trail priorities. A R S R C The project team developed community-based metrics for IB O A U evaluating trails including equity and access, feasibility, current C N O T use, and potential community health benefits. The proposed trails U Y N were analyzed and prioritized based on both quantitative and T Y qualitative characteristics and divided into three tiers with Tier 1 being the highest priority trails. There are 22 high priorities in Tier 1 (with Town of Taos road improvements combined). 0 2.5 5 Miles ± TierTier 11 OOverallverall ttrailrail p prioritiesriorities ENCHANTEDE N C H A N T E D CIRCLEC I R C L E TRAILS T R A I L PPLANL A N

August 1, 2017. Copyright © The Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land and The Trust for Public Land logo are federally registered marks of The Trust for Public Land. Information on this map is provided for purposes of discussion and visualization only. www.tpl.org

figure 6 Special thanks to the following data providers: Town of Taos, Taos Land Trust, and Enchanted Circle Trails Association. Copyright © The Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land and The Trust for Public Land logo are federally registered marks of The Trust for Public Land. Information on this map is provided for purposes of discussion and visualization only.

38 enchanted circle trails plan TABLE 3. TIER 1: TOWN OF TAOS ROAD IMPROVEMENTS TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND CONNECTIVITY

Highest Ranked Third Highest Ranked (Continued)

High School to Kit Carson (TOT94) Bike Lane: State Highway 240 (TOT31)

Bike Lane: U.S. Highway 64 (TOT71) Bike Lane: Carabajal Road (TOT57)

Town of Taos to Old Blinking Light (TOT88) Bike Lane: Albright Road (TOT68)

Bike Lane: State Highway 585 (TOT41) Bike Route: Salazar Road (TOT 106)

High School to Baca (TOT93) Bike Route: Los Pandos Road (TOT49)

Don Fernando to Library (TOT103) Don Fernando to Saavedra (TOT104)

Bike Lane: Gusdorf Road (TOT48) Bike Route: U.S. Highway 64 (TOT69)

Second Highest Ranked Fourth Highest Ranked

Town of Taos to Ranchos de Taos (TOT40) Kit Carson to Baca Connector— Alternative 1 (TOT100)

Bike Route: Valverde Street (TOT84) Bike Lane: State Highway 240 (TOT32)

Bike Lane: Ranchitos Road (TOT 107) Upper Ranchitos Road (TOT72)

Bike Lane: State Highway 518 (TOT87) Bike Lane: La Lomita Road (TOT105)

Town of Taos to Old Blinking Light (TOT83) Bike Lane: Cam del Medio (TOT54)

High School to Youth and Family Center (TOT95)

Third Highest Ranked Rio Fernando Pedestrian and Bike Path (TOT8)

Bike Lane: Weimer Road (TOT47) Bike Lane: Ranchos de Taos to UNM and Taos Valley Overlook (TOT24b)

Bike Route: Cruz Alta Road (TOT66) Bike Lane: Maestes Road (TOT65)

Bike Lane: Upper Ranchitos Road (TOT27) Bike Lane: Ranchos de Taos to UNM and Taos Valley Overlook (TOT24a)

enchantedRanchito circle Rd through trails planthe Plaza (TOT108) 39 Arroyo Hondo 522 Town of Taos road Wilderness (USFS) and Arroyo Seco UV improvements Other Forest Service Tier 1 (highest priority) BLM ¤£64 Other tier 1 State Tier 2 or 3 Tribal Planning area E N C H A N T E D C I R C L E S C E N I C B Y W A Y Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway County boundary

T O T 8 3 Ta o s D

R Pu e b lo S

A S I La nd s U G N A O R L D L R N O C L S L I TOT72 A H L

R Y E R T W R O E O B D L A E V U IS L B TOT88

TOT105

7 2 4 T 8 O T T O T TAOS TOT69

6 0 1 1 TOT108 3 4 T 9 O A T 0 T T 0 O TOT1 O T T T C TOT57 A TO TOT49 R T T 9 3 T 240 O UV T 7 1 0 T 4 O T T 4 6 5 O 5 T T 9 6 O T T Town of Taos T O and Surrounding TOT41 585 Development 8 UV 4 T T O O T T 4 T 7 O T 3 2

RANCHOS DE TAOS TOT65

4a T2 Ca rs o n TO TOT24b Nat io na l Fo re st T O Camino Real T District - 8 7 CNF South

UV68

Taos Valley UV518 Overlook

0 0.5 1 Miles ± TierTier 1 1Pr iPriorities:orities: Town oTownf Taos rofoad improvements TaosE N C H A N T E D CroadI R C L E T R A I L P LimprovementsA N August 1, 2017. Copyright © The Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land and The Trust for Public Land logo are federally registered marks of The Trust for Public Land. ENCHANTEDInformation on this map is p rCIRCLEovided for purp oTRAILSses of discussi oPLANn and visualization only. www.tpl.org

figure 7 Special thanks to the following data providers: Town of Taos, Taos Land Trust, and Enchanted Circle Trails Association. Copyright © The Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land and The Trust for Public Land logo are federally registered marks of The Trust for Public Land. Information on this map is provided for purposes of discussion and visualization only.

40 enchanted circle trails plan A KEY FINDING FROM THE COMMUNITY to Old Blinking Light (TOT88); Bike Lane: State OUTREACH AND SURVEYS was that improving Hwy 585 (TOT41); High School to Baca (TOT93); safety is the highest priority for investing Don Fernando to Library (TOT103); and Bike in trails. There is strong support for more Lane: Gusdorf Rd (TOT48). off-road/separated paths for cyclists and pedestrians. Of the 155 trail segments proposed The priority trails shown in Figures 6 and 7 by community members, 59 trail segments are preliminary priorities based on assessment (38%) were proposed as Town of Taos road using the metrics described on page 36. Each improvements. Further, the Town of Taos road planning area was also evaluated separately. improvements (59 segments) comprise 82% An example of a planning area assessment of the trails segments proposed for the Town for the Town of Taos is shown in Figure 7 and of Taos Planning Area. Based on the commu- Table 4 . All of the planning area maps and nity-based metrics developed for evaluating tables are in online Appendix A. trails including equity and access, feasibility, Trails priorities will continue to evolve over current use, and potential community health time and will be revised and refined by benefits, seven trail segments ranked the agencies, local governments, user groups, and highest for improving safety and connectivity, other organizations that are committed to including: High School to Kit Carson (TOT94); expanding and improving trails. Bike Lane: US Hwy 64 (TOT71); Town of Taos odonnell

Exploring nature

enchanted circle trails plan 41 TABLE 4 Town of Taos planning area assessment

PROPOSED TRAILS Overview Uses

Trail Name Segment ID Length Overall Walk/Hike Road Bike Mountain Horse Nordic (Miles) Ranking Bike

Bike Lane: Albright Rd TOT68 0.36 48 Yes Yes No No No No 1 3 4 1 6 2 3 2 3 578 418 1847 $35,796 7

Bike Lane: Cam del Medio TOT54 2.85 44 Yes Yes Yes No No No 5 0 1 2 3 2 3 2 3 749 430 2535 $34,332 8

Bike Lane: Carabajal Rd TOT57 0.48 48 Yes Yes No No No No 5 0 4 2 4 3 5 3 4 354 264 1235 $26,405 8

Bike Lane: Gusdorf Rd TOT48 2.11 56 Yes Yes No No No No 1 4 2 2 6 3 3 3 3 578 418 1847 $35,796 8

Bike Lane: La Lomita Rd TOT105 0.34 45 Yes Yes No No No No 9 4 4 2 3 3 3 3 3 354 264 1235 $26,405 8

Bike Lane: Maestes Rd TOT65 0.30 43 Yes Yes Yes No No No 1 0 3 7 4 3 4 3 4 772 709 2947 $30,995 2

Bike Lane: Ranchitos Rd TOT 107 0.21 54 Yes Yes No No No No 1 5 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 354 264 1235 $26,405 8

Bike Lane: Ranchos de Taos to UNM and Taos TOT24b 6.46 43 No Yes No No No No 35 1 1 5 4 3 4 3 4 932 612 3338 $38,567 4 Valley Overlook

Bike Lane: Ranchos de Taos to UNM and Taos TOT24a 6.46 43 No Yes No No No No 35 1 1 5 4 3 4 3 4 932 612 3338 $38,567 4 Valley Overlook

Bike Lane: State Hwy 240 TOT31 2.13 48 Yes Yes No No No No 2 0 2 7 3 3 2 3 3 932 612 3338 $38,567 2

Bike Lane: State Hwy 240 TOT32 2.34 45 Yes Yes No No No No 4 1 4 3 3 3 2 3 3 749 430 2535 $34,332 8

Bike Lane: State Hwy 518 TOT87 2.38 53 Yes Yes No No No No 1 2 3 6 4 3 5 3 3 772 709 2947 $30,995 2

Bike Lane: State Hwy 585 TOT41 2.02 58 Yes Yes Yes Yes No No 0 3 2 6 5 4 5 5 5 772 709 2947 $30,995 2

Bike Lane: Upper Ranchitos Rd TOT27 1.62 50 Yes Yes No No No No 3 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 354 264 1235 $26,405 8

Bike Lane: US Hwy 64 TOT71 1.77 62 No Yes No No No No 2 4 4 9 5 3 3 3 3 363 250 1268 $34,816 2

Bike Lane: Weimer Rd TOT47 0.78 51 Yes Yes Yes No No No 1 0 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 772 709 2947 $30,995 2

Bike Route: Cruz Alta Rd TOT66 0.91 51 Yes Yes No No No No 1 2 4 3 4 4 5 4 4 578 418 1847 $35,796 8

Bike Route: Los Pandos Rd TOT49 0.63 47 Yes Yes No No No No 1 7 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 176 205 778 $17,312 7

Bike Route: Salazar Rd TOT 106 0.73 48 Yes Yes No No No No 5 6 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 749 430 2535 $34,332 6

Bike Route: US Hwy 64 TOT69 0.22 47 Yes Yes No No No No 1 5 4 3 1 0 0 82 128 458 $47,349 6

Bike Route: Valverde St TOT84 0.87 55 Yes Yes No No No No 12 6 4 3 4 4 2 4 3 127 233 643 $35,579 7

Don Fernando to Library TOT103 0.29 57 Yes Yes No No No No 2 6 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 127 233 643 $35,579 7

Don Fernando to Saaverdra TOT104 0.34 47 Yes Yes No No No No 8 6 4 2 3 3 3 3 3 127 233 643 $35,579 7

High School to Baca TOT93 0.88 58 Yes Yes Yes No No No 12 2 4 2 7 3 5 3 5 749 430 2535 $34,332 6

High School to Kit Carson TOT94 1.34 62 Yes Yes Yes No No No 7 8 3 2 7 3 4 3 5 578 418 1847 $35,796 8

High School to Youth and Family Center TOT95 1.41 44 Yes Yes Yes No No No 13 4 3 2 4 3 4 3 5 578 418 1847 $35,796 8

Kit Carson to Baca Connector - Alternative 1 TOT100 1.47 46 Yes Yes Yes No No No 25 7 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 363 250 1268 $34,816 2

Los Cordovas Rio Grande del Rancho Arroyo TOT14 3.73 43 Yes No Yes No No No 109 2 1 4 4 4 4 5 4 483 380 1866 $41,938 3

NM150 connector AH23 3.50 51 Yes Yes No No No No 27 1 2 3 5 4 5 5 932 612 3338 $38,567 4

Ranchito Rd through the Plaza TOT108 0.11 50 Yes Yes No No No No 2 6 4 6 3 3 3 3 3 127 233 643 $35,579 6

Rio Fernando Pedestrian and Bike Path TOT8 0.84 43 Yes Yes Yes Yes No No 27 3 2 2 4 3 3 3 3 176 205 778 $17,312 7

Talpa Traverse connector TOT9 0.32 43 Yes No Yes No No No 4 0 4 18 4 4 5 4 4 772 709 2947 $30,995 2

Town of Taos to Old Blinking Light TOT88 0.54 61 Yes Yes No No No No 1 6 4 2 4 3 4 3 5 363 250 1268 $34,816 2

Town of Taos to Old Blinking Light TOT83 3.50 52 Yes Yes No No No No 2 2 2 2 3 2 4 2 3 363 250 1268 $34,816 2

Town of Taos to Ranchos de Taos TOT40 3.52 55 Yes Yes No No No No 1 11 2 2 2 0 4 1 2 749 430 2535 $34,332 8

Upper Ranchitos Rd TOT72 0.43 45 Yes Yes No No No No 1 1 4 2 4 3 5 3 4 274 151 883 $42,188 4

42 enchanted circle trails plan Statistics and Field Verification Accessibility Score

OHV or # of Schools # of Slope Public Health Viability User Ex- Overall Kids Seniors Total Popu- Median Overall Snowmo- Private in Prox- Stream (mean%) Prefer- Score Score perience User within within lation within Household Acces- bile Parcels imity Cross- ence Score Score 1/2 mile 1/2 mile 1/2 mile Income sibility Crossed ings Ranking Score