Santa Fe’s city trails to stay open

Although the Santa Fe National Forest announced this week it would close due to fire risk, the city of Santa Fe said Friday its trails adjacent to forestland would remain open, including the Dale Ball Trail network and Dorothy Stewart Trail.

Santa Fe County fire officials, meanwhile, announced they would close all county trails that “translate directly” into forest property.

Where city trails intersect with forest service land, which officials closed Friday for the first time since 2013, city staff will clearly mark the forest closure, according to a city news release.

City fire officials discussed possible closures of adjoining city trails, the release stated, but, “It was important to us to preserve day use access for our residents as much as possible,” interim City Manager Erik Litzenberg said.

“We also see having regular users on the trail as one of our best deterrents to the kind of illegal camping or campfire building that could otherwise fly under the radar.” Litzenberg also is the city fire chief. The city’s fire department will increase its trail patrols, according to the release.

Despite fire restrictions enacted in early May, forest officials said they found more than 80 abandoned campfires over Memorial Day weekend in explaining the decision to close forest roads, trails and campgrounds.

“It is critically important that we collaborate with our federal partners to protect property and our shared forest and water resources,” said county fire Chief David Sperling.

According to a county news release, county areas and trails to remain open include the trails at the Arroyo Hondo Open Space and Cerrillos Hills State Park.