A message from the State Parks director

In the past few months, New Mexicans have adjusted to a new world. In order to slow the spread of COVID-19, on March 15, the governor directed all state parks, museums, historic sites and cultural institutions to close temporarily. Due to this swift response, New Mexicans have slowed the spread of the virus, allowing us to safely re-open the majority of our state parks to day use. Park staff have been trained in new measures to keep our citizens and our park resources safe.

As we continue to welcome visitors back to state parks, I want to thank everyone for their understanding for the temporary closures and the new measures we’ve undertaken to keep everyone safe.

There are things to know before you head out to a state park. We have temporarily adjusted the hours and days that many parks are open, so please check the New Mexico State Parks website. It’s also important to note that some parks have capacity limits to reduce overcrowding. Please make sure to maintain social distance while engaging in all park activities, bring a mask for any face-to-face interactions, and remain vigilant to prevent spreading this highly contagious virus.

Months of stay-at-home orders have increased interest across the nation in getting outdoors and connecting to nature, but it is critical to recreate responsibly. Sadly, we’ve seen too many instances of negative impacts to the beautiful resources in our state due to misuse. Trash has littered our public lands and we’ve seen a number of humancaused fires due to unattended campfires. There are statewide fire restrictions currently in effect that must be followed to protect first responders and our landscapes.

As New Mexico continues to implement a phased economywide reopening, we hope to offer more park services soon. For now, we encourage anyone heading to an open state park to do so in small groups with safety in mind. We’re all learning to navigate a new COVID-19 world and it will take some time to adapt, but I know we can recreate responsibly together.

Thank you for doing your part to keep the outdoors safe and clean, and I hope to see you in a state park soon.

CHRISTY TAFOYA, State Parks director Santa Fe