News - Petitions are needed to save Otero Canyon Trails!
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Report by Dan Baker, 5/5/2003 - There is a popular hiking, biking, and horse riding trail outside of Albuquerque called Otero Canyon. The trail is on part of land that has never been fenced or used for anything other than recreation. It is a truely great network of singletrack, and one of the closest areas for Albuquerque MTB riders besides the openspace off Tramway. The Otero Canyon trail system is just a couple miles south of Tijeras on south 14... about 30 minutes drive from Albuquerque. However, this land sits next to Kirtland Air Force Base and a portion of the land is what is called "military withdrawal land." This land was given to the Department of Defense when Kirtland AFB was originated right after WWII, but the Air Force has never had use for it in over 50 years. The Otero Canyon trails extend from National Forest Land thru a corner of this military land, and for at least 20 years there has been no concern by the military over the use of it as a recreation area. However, because of the significant amounts of money available for Homeland Security, Kirtland decided to request funding for a project to fence this land off. Most people here in Albuquerque would agree that this is an unnecessary taxpayer expense and the land is better served to be left open to the public. Please take the time to click on the url below and sign the petition to stop the closure of Otero Canyon. Also, please pass this on to others that you know of that might be interested in signing this petition. Keep the rubber side down.... - Dan
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