New Mexico lawmakers want to create 500-mile statewide trail

A group of New Mexico lawmakers wants to create a 500-mile, statewide recreation trail that stretches from Colorado to Texas and weaves through majestic vistas, monuments and cultural areas in the Land of Enchantment. Called the Rio Grande Trail, the pathway is envisioned as being similar to the Appalachian Trail or the Continental Divide Trail. Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, introduced a bill Thursday to create a commission to define the best routes and reach necessary agreements to designate a path. Commission members would include cities, counties, tribes, federal agencies, conservancy districts, and private citizens. The trail would only cross land accessed through voluntary agreements with owners and would link pathways that already exist along the Rio Grande, including the Bosque in Albuquerque, Taos, Elephant Butte and Las Cruces. The existing pathways comprise just 10 percent of the proposed trial. If the bill passes, a fund would be created with seed money for initial staff to begin work at the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. The fund would accept private foundation money and other donations...more

They will eventually name this the Mexican Gray Wolf Trail.