Santa Fe to close select trails May 28 due to extreme fire conditions

Update: During an emergency meeting on Tuesday morning, city officials voted to extend the trail closures that went into effect on Saturday, May 28 through June 7, 2022.

SANTA FE, N.M. — Starting May 28, certain trails in Santa Fe will be closed to the public. Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber is issuing emergency orders closing the trails, citing extreme fire conditions.

The following trails and trail systems will be closed:

• The Dale Ball Trails (which are accessed off of Hyde Park Road, Cerro Gordo Road, Upper Canyon Road, and Camino Cruz Blanca, including the Atalaya and Dorothy Stewart trails)
• The Sun Mountain Trail
• La Tierra Trails
• MX/BMX trails at La Tierra and the Metropolitan Recreation Complex (MRC)

The city selected trails that would be hard for firefighters to access if there was a fire. While those trails and open spaces will close, other trails within the city – as well as parks, open spaces, and recreation centers – will remain open.

Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya said he’s never seen such extreme fire conditions so early. It’s unclear how long the trails will stay closed.

“My long-term plan is July 10 or until conditions improve,” Moya said.

The Santa Fe National Forest has already closed due to fire danger, and the county has also closed trails leading to the forest.

To prevent fires, Santa Fe is also under fire restrictions that were implemented in March. The following are prohibited within city limits while the restrictions are in place:

• Smoking in public parks, recreation areas, or on any public trail
• Using charcoal barbecue grills in public parks and recreation areas
• The sale or use of some fireworks within the city of Santa Fe 
• Open burning, including campfires, bonfires, pit barbecues
• Burning of weeds, trash, or other vegetation
• Using any motorized all-terrain vehicle or motorcycles on city-owned open space, parks, trails, or other recreational areas