To establish a continuous through-route for the Rio Grande Trail from the north end of New Mexico to the south, there is a need to bridge the gap in the current trail alignment between the Counties of Santa Fe and Taos.

Through conversations with partners and community outreach, a draft alignment has been identified. Review the draft alignment in the interactive map linked below.

Background

While the 2018 RGT Master Plan established a proposed alignment throughout most of the state, a critical gap remained between Santa Fe County and Taos County. Additionally, some of the master plan alignments in Santa Fe County are being reconsidered, particularly in light of efforts to identify a connection to Taos County.

The Santa Fe/Taos connection is a critical link. Identifying a route for the trail between these areas will strengthen regional connectivity between two of New Mexico’s most visited and culturally rich areas.

For this evaluation, the alignment begins at the Santa Fe County line along New Mexico Highway 14 (NM-14) and continues north. This starting point is the proposed alignment as identified in the master plan. From there, the alignment continues north and connects with the southern end of the West Rim Trail along the Rio Grande Gorge, which has already been designated as the Rio Grande Trail.

Alignment Details

Click the button below to view narratives and maps about the proposed alignment options!