Bandelier National Monument will open the Frijoles and Alamo Headwaters Area to year-round daytime public use on September 10, 2005. Opening day activities will include a ceremony and unveiling of the Cerro Grande Route by the Superintendent, following by a guided hike to the summit of Cerro Grande and fall migration bird banding demonstrations.
This event marks the culmination of planning efforts over the past several years to open park lands north of New Mexico Highway 4 (NM 4) and west of Forest Road 289 (FR 289) within Sandoval County that are currently closed to recreational public use, and designate those lands and lands south of NM 4 open for year-round day use. These lands include areas acquired in 1977, 1998, and 2000, totaling approximately 3,997 acres. The Frijoles and Alamo Headwaters Public Access Project Environmental Assessment (EA) was developed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and analyzed the potential impacts to park resources from the land opening proposal. Following the public review, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed by the Superintendent and the NPS Intermountain Regional Office. Two unimproved, primitive hiking routes will be established in the area: the Cerro Grande Route and the Alamo Boundary Route. Parking areas for the routes will be provided, as well as access points to other destinations within the area.
Opening day festivities will commence at 9:00a.m. at the Cerro Grande Route parking area located along NM 4 within Bandelier National Monument. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of Bandelier. Following the opening ceremony, there will be a hike to the summit of Cerro Peak lead by the park archeologist and a protection ranger. For those who chose not to hike, fall migration bird banding demonstrations will be held with the park wildlife biologist adjacent to the Alamo Boundary Route parking area along FR 289. These activities will begin at 9:30a.m.
For additional information call Jennifer Carpenter, Resource Management Planner, at (505) 672-3861, extension 563.
Go to Special Events page or Management Docs for map to area and events.
