“North Arroyo Loop” Illegal Trail (BLM inventory segment 2P)
When was the North Arroyo Loop (illegally) constructed?
The mountain bike trail “North Arroyo Loop” (red) was constructed on a sensitive ridgeline somewhere between 2019-2020.
This illegal mountain bike trail is still being shared (as of 12/2021) on public social media mountain bike ride-sharing sites, TrailForks.com, and bike club sites, Santa Fe Fat Tire Society.[1]The Santa Fe Fat Tire Society recently removed their sanction on Trailforks.com of some of the illegal trails constructed in the Sombrillo ACEC, although their website still links to maps of these … Continue reading Recently a YouTube video, Cryptobiotic Crust Wonderland, was shared of riders on this trail, along with other newly constructed illegal trails in the Sombrillo Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC).
These recently built trails traverse fragile sedimentary layers that are protected under the BLM Sombrillo (ACEC).
The white spots on the map link to photos of the damage to the environment from mountain bike activity, and trail construction using tools to dig trail beds and saws to cut pinon and juniper trees.
It is illegal for the public to construct trails using tools like these on BLM lands. The BLM is required to comply with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). These laws require the BLM to conduct official environmental assessments and public scoping periods before any trail building occurs.
Please note that this trail was not constructed by the BLM or any other authorized entities. It was built illegally by some irresponsible mountain bikers, potentially ruining future access to the general area. The BLM is investigating illegal trail building in the Nambé Badlands.
The Friends of the Nambé Badlands encourage local mountain bike clubs and organizations to publicly speak out against illegal trail building and to promote responsible mountain biking.