SFNF News:
SANTA FE – The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) reminds visitors to the Cuba Ranger District that Forest Road (FR) 69 is closed to all motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), now through July 1, 2025.
This closure is in place to protect elk cows during their calving season and provide a safe habitat as they seek areas with cover and forage during May and June. Disturbances, such as motorized traffic and human interaction, can lead to cows aborting or abandoning their calves.
After giving birth, the mother and calf will remain in the area for about 10 days until the calf is strong enough to follow its mother to a higher elevation.
“The annual closure of Forest Road 69 is listed in the seasonal closure section of our Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). Visitors are still welcome to walk in the area, but we ask that you be respectful of elk during this critical time for the herd,” Cuba District Ranger Jeremy Golston said.
Federal, state, and local officials, members of organized rescue teams or firefighters, landowners accessing their private property, and anyone else authorized by permit are exempt rom the closure order.
For more information about the seasonal closure of FR 69, call the Cuba Ranger District at 575.289.3264.
About the Forest Service:
The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.