The Enchanted Circle Trails Association (ECTA) has been contracted by the Village of Taos Ski Valley (VTSV) to develop a comprehensive Village Trails and Greenspaces Plan. This plan will reflect the community’s vision for recreation and open space while promoting community health, economic growth, and the health of the natural environment. It will be driven by community and stakeholder input to ensure that recreation is managed responsibly and that the interests of our communities are respected.
Click here to take the online survey
Why Develop a Conceptual Trails Plan?
The Village of Taos Ski Valley sits within a unique landscape surrounded by national forest, private property, and Taos Pueblo lands. Thoughtful planning is essential to balance recreation with protection of natural and cultural resources.
A comprehensive plan will help coordinate future development, incorporate community and stakeholder input, and ensure that new trails and greenspaces promote public health, environmental sustainability, and local economic opportunity.
The benefits of trails and greenspaces in the Village of Taos Ski Valley could include:
- Improving Community Health through Multiple-Use Recreation: Trails support a variety of recreational uses that encourage active lifestyles, broaden access to nature, and provide opportunities for physical, mental, and social well-being across the community.
- Enhancing Safety by Separating Cars and Recreationists: By offering dedicated, off-road trails this project could reduce the hazards currently faced by walkers and cyclists traveling along roads in the Village and provide a safer option for both commuters and recreational users.
- Increasing Economic Vitality: As a shared public space and community asset, trails and greenspaces could contribute to social cohesion and local economic resilience. They could support small businesses such as cafés and lodging, especially during the shoulder seasons when tourism is typically slower.
- Expanding Inclusive Access to Outdoor Recreation: New trails and greenspaces could incorporate accessibility standards to the extent feasible, in turn broadening outdoor recreation opportunities to serve a wider range of users, including individuals with mobility challenges or adaptive equipment needs.
- Supporting Year-Round Recreation: Implementing more trails in the Village of Taos Ski Valley could allow for more recreational activities throughout the summer and shoulder seasons which are typically slower and see less visitation, providing consistent opportunities for outdoor enjoyment.
- Dispersing Recreational Use Across Public Lands: By adding new, unique trails to the existing network and providing new access points, the project could spread out recreationists more broadly and reduce pressure on currently overused sites in sensitive alpine environments.
- Offering Interpretive and Educational Opportunities: Potential trails and green spaces could incorporate educational and interpretive elements, such as wildlife viewing areas and informational displays, allowing both locals and visitors to learn about the natural resources and cultural history of the area.
- Reducing Congestion and Vehicle Traffic on Twining Road and in Kachina Basin: By providing non-motorized trails safely away from roads, visitors will be encouraged to park their cars at the base and use alternative, human-powered modes of transportation to access points of interest within the Ski Valley.
- Promotes Local Small Business Development: For local, small businesses in the Village of Taos Ski Valley, trails and greenspaces could open up opportunities for small business development (such as lodging, guide services, or retail catering to trail users) and draw in more visitors to provide year-round, consistent income, further supporting the local economy.
Project Overview
Project Area and Current Land Management:
Project Timeline:
November 2025 – February 2026:
-Engage stakeholders via one-on-one meetings
-Engage local communities via a series of three public meetings and two virtual meetings
December 2025 – April 2026:
-Develop the draft plan
May 2026:
-Propose the draft plan to the community via two public meetings and one virtual meeting
June – July 2026:
-Revise final plan by incorporating community feedback
July 27th, 2026:
-Submit final plan to the Village of Taos Ski Valley Parks and Recreation Committee
and Village Council
How to Get Involved:
As a community member, your input is essential and your engagement is critical to ensuring recreation is managed responsibly and the interests of our communities are respected.
Attend one of our upcoming in-person or virtual public meetings:
Conference Room at Taos Valley Lodge
615 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Taos
December 7th, 5-7 PM
Village Conference Room, Village of Taos Ski Valley
New Firehouse on Firehouse Rd
December 13th, 5-7 PM
Virtual Public Meeting via Zoom
December 15th, 5-7 PM
Meeting ID: 841 8353 9584
Click here to join the meeting
Click here to take our online survey
*Questions?? Contact carel@enchantedcircletrails.org*