BLM Taos Field Office opens new parking lot at Horsethief Mesa
TAOS, N.M. – The Bureau of Land Management Taos Field Office partnered with Carson National Forest to improve access and parking at Horsethief Mesa in Taos County. The project helps resolves trespassing issues and safety concerns associated with public access to the National Forest and BLM-managed public lands within the Río Grande del Norte National Monument.
The access and parking improvement project was developed adjacent to Highway 522 at Arroyo Hondo Waste Transfer Station. The project was authorized by the Carson National Forest after being evaluated by the BLM under the 2021 Horsethief Mesa Travel Management Plan and environmental assessment.
This marks the first phase of a long-term Travel Management Plan designed to improve access along the half-mile of road used to access the Monument. Prior to improving parking, public trail users were often confined to parking along the shoulder of Highway 522.
The management plan also includes provisions for additional single-track, multi-use recreational trails, while reclaiming some redundant roads and trails in the Horsethief Mesa area. Additional parking would be developed as the access road is improved over subsequent phases of the project.
“Safe parking and legal access are just basic accommodations important for the public’s use and enjoyment of these public lands. The BLM, Forest Service, County and partner organizations all played a role in achieving these critical needs,” said Taos Field Office Assistant Field Manager for Recreation Brad Higdon.
Funding for the project was provided through a Trails+ grant awarded to the Taos Mountain Bike Association by New Mexico’s Outdoor Recreation Division in the amount of approximately $38,000. The Enchanted Circle Trails Association also contributed to the formulation of the Horsethief Mesa Travel Management Plan and assisted in securing the Trials+ grant. Taos County Solid Waste Administration also collaborated on modifications to its access to the transfer station.
For more information about the area, please contact Mr. Higdon at bhigdon@blm.gov or (575) 751-4703.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.