CDTC News:

SANTA FE — Deep in the Chihuahuan Desert of southern New Mexico, previously quiet places are receiving new attention. Namely, access to the southern terminus of Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) in southern New Mexico has undergone numerous changes during the past year, resulting in new infrastructure and requiring additional planning for some travelers. 

Last summer, management of lands encompassing the CDT southern terminus monument was transferred from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to the U.S. Army at Fort Huachuca with the creation of the New Mexico National Defense Area (NDA), which stretches along the US-Mexico border. This area is located in New Mexico’s ‘Bootheel’, so named for the portion of the state that protrudes into Mexico, jutting below the state’s otherwise straight lines like a boot’s heel. 

Designation of the NDA has resulted in many changes in the region, including the construction of a border barrier and road improvements along the main access route for the CDT, the Commodore Road, to accommodate heavy equipment. 

One of the most significant changes resulting from the designation of the NDA was a requirement to obtain an access pass to enter the area. This access pass affected CDT hikers, hunters, horseback riders, and other recreationists seeking solitude and outdoor experiences in this remote landscape. While initial guidance detailed more complicated requirements for non-U.S. citizens, updated policies now allow international visitors to apply for a temporary access permit, given that any U.S. citizen with an NDA access permit escorts them through the NDA.

“This was a new situation for all of us, for CDTC, our agency partners, and Fort Huachuca,” said Teresa Martinez, Executive Director for the Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC). “Since the establishment of the NDA, we have been in close communication with the Army, land managers, and other officials to understand the implications of this new situation and to communicate information to the impacted communities. We have also strongly advocated for the importance of access to this region for all visitors of the CDT, as it is a critical component of the CDT experience.” 

Each year, hundreds of hopeful hikers set out on a cross-continental journey across the U.S. from border to border, either beginning or ending at the southern terminus in the Bootheel of New Mexico. The CDT is world-renowned to thru-hikers, who arrive at the southern terminus by foot if they are southbound, or leave by foot if hiking northbound. For years, the CDT southern terminus has consisted of a simple shade shelter and a granite obelisk. But for many hikers, the CDT Southern terminus monument is the symbol of the start of a life-changing journey—or the conclusion of one. 

Through recent cooperative efforts between CDTC, the BLM, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Forest Service, Martinez reported that current plans are to remove the CDT southern terminus from the NDA entirely after border barrier construction is complete. The change would provide unobstructed access for CDT enthusiasts and other desert visitors, and Martinez chalks up the change to successful cooperation and communication amongst land managers and informed by those most impacted by the recent situation- CDT long-distance travelers. 

Staff members from CDTC, federal agencies, and Congressional offices visited the southern terminus earlier this year, in part to understand the unique character of the Bootheel landscape, and also to demonstrate support for public lands.  Members of Congressman Gabriel Vasquez’s staff were among the recent visitors to the southern terminus. In a recent article, Congressman Vasquez, a long-time collaborator with CDTC, championed preserving access to public lands as a bipartisan value. 

“In this country, public lands are the great equalizer. Both Republicans and Democrats have fought to protect them for generations,” Vasquez wrote in the article. 

“It’s a testament to the power of collaboration and the simple act of coming to the table on issues that span across different communities and interests. We appreciate how willing everyone involved—from the officials at Fort Huachuca to our Representatives in DC—has been to work together to share information and find solutions,” Martinez said. “We will continue to come to the table to advocate for the CDT, these landscapes, and the communities who care about them.”