Abiquiu, NM: Building Trails, Saving Local Economies

The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew assists the Army Corps of Engineers in diversifying the recreational opportunities around Lake Abiquiu, New Mexico.

The Trail Care Crew Subaru overlooking Lake Abiquiu.
During the field session of the trailbuilding workshop, the group laid out a new singletrack trail that starts from an existing parking lot and leads about 3/4 mile to the top of the hill shown in the background of this photo.
After marking the new trail route, the group posed at the top where a bench overlooking the lake and mountains will be placed.
The group of volunteers included Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Forest Service and ACE staff as well as local private property owners. On National Public Lands Day on September, 18, 2004 the trail will be constructed to completion and the bench will be placed in the ground.
After the hard trailwork, the group enjoyed a group ride on the South boundary Trail in nearby Taos.

Senior U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park Ranger, Eric Garner, has been instrumental in planning new trail systems in and around Lake Abiquiu in Northern New Mexico. His vision to diversify recreational opportunities around the lake will benefit the Corps as well as local businesses. Currently, the lake is mainly used for boating and camping. In 2003 the water level of the lake became too low to allow boating, and local businesses greatly suffered from the lack of tourist dollars. More types of activities in and around the lake would provide more opportunities to draw tourists.

Nat and Rachael Lopes, Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew, couldn't agree more with Garner's ideas. The Lopes' worked with Garner to assess existing and potential trails and taught an IMBA trailbuilding school. This visit is one of eleven that will be conducted at Corps sites in 2004 as part of IMBA's Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

To find out more about recreation at Lake Abiquiu and the Army Corps of Engineers visit their website.