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Recreational Activities
Home : Recreational Activities
Most campsites on the Santa Fe National Forest are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Some individual campsites, and all of the Forest's group campsites can be reserved by calling 1-877-444-6777 or via the internet www.recreation.gov
The Pecos-Las Vegas District and Espanola Ranger District on the Santa Fe National Forest recently
received Title II Rural Schools and Self-Determination Act grant money to clear and restore trails
within the Pecos Wilderness. The purpose of this ongoing project (started in May of 2011) is to 1) improve the health of the forest through visitor dispersal and improve the watershed by minimizing
erosion with well-built trails, 2) increase opportunities for recreation and hunting, 3) disperse
cattle grazing in areas where they are permitted, 4) provide new opportunities and development of
our local youth in the counties of Mora, San Miguel, and Rio Arriba through the Rocky Mountain
Youth Corps organization, and 5) increase local and rural tourism opportunities.
During the summer of 2011, the volunteer Wilderness Rangers, Back Country Horseman, and volunteer vacationers contributed many hours to the clearing of trees and trail tread rehabilitation. In addition, the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps participated in two
8-day wilderness projects to further these efforts of clearing and trail/watershed restoration,
via the Title II grant funding. The Santa Fe National Forest will, again, host volunteers and
the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps next summer to continue clearing downed trees and restoring trails and watershed.
The accompanying map depicts trails cleared primarily by volunteers during the summer 2011
season, as well as the progress made by the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps during their two 8-day
wilderness projects. This map will be updated in summer 2012 as trails are cleared and restored.
Please consider exploring newly cleared trails, as they provide for additional back country trip
routes, amazing scenery opportunities, potential wildlife sightings, and increased chances for
solitude. View map (PDF 13.8 Mb)
Additional Recreation Information
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Wilderness
Areas
There are four wilderness areas in the Santa Fe National
Forest. They cover almost 300,000 acres of land. Wilderness
areas provide primitive recreation options. Check out some
tips and rules for safe and low-impact enjoyment of the
wilderness. 
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Scenic and Historic Byways
The Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
has designated roads in the United States that should be
recognized for their cultural, historic, scenic and recreational
attributes.
There are two Scenic and Historic Byways that pass through
the Santa Fe National Forest. One near the city of Santa
Fe, and the other through the Jemez Mountains. Learn more
about the routes.
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Wild and Scenic Rivers
The Wild and Scenic Act was instituted by Congress
in 1968 to preserve outstanding free-flowing rivers.
As the Act states, rivers that possess "remarkable
scenic, recreational, geological, fish and wildlife, historic,
cultural, or other similar values..." should be managed
to protected the recognized waterways for future generations.
The Santa Fe National Forest has two nationally-designated
Wild and Scenic Rivers in the areas of Jemez and Pecos.
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A Message
About Off-Highway Vehicle Use
The level of interest in off-highway
vehicle use on the Santa Fe National Forest has grown quickly
over the last ten years or so. Use has grown from a relatively
low level, with minor and localized impacts, to levels that
are causing concern for resource damage. This growth in
use is similar to that occurring in other National Forests
across New Mexico and beyond.
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Fisheries Program
The Santa Fe National Forest has
a variety of fishing opportunities. Our Fisheries Program
not only highlights these great fishing spots, it also strives
to teach the community about fisheries research and preservation.
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