By Michele Robertson
There’s something special about New Mexico, and a lot of it has to do with the many outdoor recreation options that exist. The availability of Public Lands within the state rivals that of others. New Mexico is in the top 10 states (number seven) that have the most public land, with about 47% of land in the state being public.
“Public lands are special landscapes and resources that are owned by this and future generations. Public lands provide a space where people can responsibly recreate, learn, and connect with the outdoors,” a spokesperson shared in a statement from the Bureau of Land Management.
“The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
Congress tasked the BLM with a mandate of managing public lands for a variety of uses such as energy development, livestock grazing, recreation, and timber harvesting while ensuring natural, cultural, and historic resources are maintained for present and future use,” the statement continued.
Managing roughly 245 million acres of public lands across the country, the BLM works with ranchers, energy companies, other public agencies, interested organizations, and private citizens to uphold their mission.
“BLM lands in Carlsbad define the words “multiple use” more than many BLM lands throughout the United States. The Permian Basin has a lot of oil and gas development, and the BLM Carlsbad Field Office has continued to graze cattle, mine potash, protect cultural resources, protect wildlife species, and provide fun, well-maintained recreation sites,” the statement shared.
In the Carlsbad area, recreation opportunities include caving, hunting, hiking, biking, kayaking, birding, driving around enjoying the landscape, and more. The spokesperson shared popular locations:
Cottonwood Day Use Area, along the Black River that includes picnic tables, a vault toilet, and a universally accessible wildlife viewing platform. Activities include hiking, fishing, and watching wildlife.
La Cueva Non-motorized Trail System covers approximately 2,200 acres and contains more than 15 miles of maintained trails. The non-motorized trails are conveniently located near the city limits of Carlsbad, and are primarily used by mountain bikers, hikers, and equestrians.
Hackberry Lake Off-Highway Vehicle Use Area offers more than 55,000 acres of rolling stabilized dune lands and cliffs. The area is open for intensive use of motorcycles, sand dune buggies and other OHVs. Trails within the area take advantage of a variety of soils and topographic features, which include many turns and steep hill climbs. Routes go from shallow rocky, loamy soil on low hills to deep alluvial soils with sandy inclusions. The trails travel across small draws and along the bottom of deep arroyos. The area also includes a sand dune complex.
6 Mile Dam is only a 10-minute drive from downtown Carlsbad and includes a nature trail, several shade shelters with picnic tables, and improved access to the river for fishing, kayaking, and bird watching.
Parks Ranch Cave is another popular destination for cavers. It is a gypsum cave with more than four miles of mapped passages and 20 entrances. It is the longest gypsum cave on public land in the United States. Groups of all experience levels can find something to enjoy in the cave and no permit is required. Always cave with at least three people, three sources of light, and let someone know where you are going and when you are expected to return. Animals frequently use the cave entrances, so use caution when you approach. Watch and listen for animals such as owls, bats, and snakes, among others. Parks Ranch Cave takes on water when it rains, so do not enter if rain is forecasted for the area.
When visiting Public Lands and planning trips it’s important to keep several things in mind; “The BLM takes a ‘know before you go’ approach to outdoor safety. Please remember that most BLM sites are wide-open spaces and wildlands. Plan ahead and be aware of potential hazards. It is everyone’s responsibility to take steps necessary to minimize the chances of becoming lost or injured on public lands. Cell phones are important to bring along, but they can fail, so bring along a printed map as well. In the Carlsbad area, it is imperative to bring a lot of water. The BLM has a whole site on outdoor safety at https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/know-before-you-go. The site includes information on fire safety, wildlife safety, summer heat, flash floods, abandoned mines and much more. Proper planning is essential to staying safe while exploring public lands. Learning about environmental conditions, necessary equipment and personal protective equipment, ‘Leave No Trace’ principles, maps, and other resources will ensure that people know how to be properly prepared for a safe and enjoyable experience on their public lands,” the statement encouraged.
“As a private citizen, you can get involved in the management of your public lands. You can apply to be on the Southern New Mexico Resource Advisory Council, which consists of 12 volunteers with a variety of backgrounds who bring diverse perspectives to the BLM in an advisory capacity. You can also volunteer. The Carlsbad Field Office works often with private businesses; city, state, and county governments; and private citizens to make their public lands beautiful and enjoyable places to spend time. National Public Lands Day and Better Together are two events the BLM participates in annually where people can get involved in trash cleanup and other projects to improve their public lands. For other volunteer events, check the Bureau of Land Management—New Mexico Facebook Page,” read the statement.
Many of the BLM sites are free to visit, making them an excellent option for the adventurer on a budget.
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