About Us

The New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association (NMRTA) is a non-profit 501(C) (3) entity.

The NMRTA was organized in February ,1994, and now has about 400 individual members and about 30 business and service organization members. The monthly newsletter is mailed to about 450 individuals, organizations, and agencies.

The NMRTA’s principal goal is to convert the old, abandoned Alamogordo and Sacramento Mountains Railroad (A&SMRR) grade into a multi-use, multi-access, recreational and linkage rail-trail extending from Alamogordo, NM, (elevation 4,300 feet) to Russian Canyon (elevation 9,100 feet) six miles south of Cloudcroft, a total distance of about 32 miles.

Our second goal is to extend this rail-trail southward from Russia Canyon to link to some other existing trails and to some planned trails in the Sacramento Mountains and thence down the mountain to the Oliver Lee Memorial State Park and then northward to Alamogordo for a total loop distance of about 50 miles. This overall trail system is shown here. Because of the unique engineering aspects of the A&SMRR, the spectacular views looking westward across the Tularosa Basin to the White Sands National Monument and the San Andres Mountains beyond, the cool alpine meadow and canyon scenery, the variety of plant and animal life in proceeding through several climate zones, the unusual geology of the region, and the history of the railroad and area, we feel that such a trail would qualify for national recognition.

A third goal is to facilitate regular trail and rail-trail building throughout New Mexico, and to help to interconnect these trails in order to create a statewide trail system. The purpose of these trails is to create recreational opportunities for our citizens for hiking, walking, bicycling, horseback riding, using some motorized vehicles, and cross-country skiing.

Another very important factor in the NMRTA’s mission statement is the recognition that trails are major tourist attractions and will therefore improve the economic well-being and viability of the area. The economy of the area in which these trails have been and are to be constructed is very dependent on the tourist industry.

The NMRTA is a volunteer organization and does not have any paid officers, board members or staff, nor does it have any permanent office facilities. Its income is derived from nominal dues paid annually by its members, and from grants and donations that may be secured from time to time. NMRTA has both formal and informal cooperative arrangements with such organizations as the US Forest Service, the Village of Cloudcroft, the Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce, the City of Alamogordo, and the National Park Service. Although most members reside in Cloudcroft, NM, and Alamogordo, NM, and other nearby communities (e.g., Las Cruces and El Paso), many members live out of state (principally in Texas), with a few in states as far away as Kansas, Florida, Washington, Georgia, and Virginia.

Since its establishment, NMRTA volunteers have invested over 5,000 person-hours in the clearing and refurbishment of portions of the railroad right-of-way and in the construction of bypass trails and other rail-trail projects. We have prepared proposals for and have received a number of grants for trail building, trail facilities, and trail-related activities. These grants, which generally require a monetary and/or an in-kind contribution varying from 20% to 50% from the NMRTA, have totaled about $180,000.00 to date. We have also received a $10,000.00 grant from the Marion Harkey estate and, recently, a $5000 grant from the Jerry and Patricia Johnson Foundation for educational signs for the rail trail. Contributions from the USFS, individuals, the NMRTA, and the Jerry and Patricia Johnson Foundation have totaled about $42,000, plus $15,000 in donations, and $12,200 in in-kind labor and services.

In addition to the NMRTA’s commitment to trail building and the construction of trail facilities, the organization is dedicated to community service related to trails. Over 800 school children from schools in nearby communities have been given guided tours of the rail trails in order to explain the history of the railroad, the geology of the region as displayed in the cuts of the railroad grade, and the importance of preserving and taking care of the beauty of the area. These guided tours are requested principally by elementary and middle school teachers. The NMRTA also formed a youth group and obtained grants to fund a Resource Assistance through the National Student Conservation Association to work with the kids in the 10 to 16 year age group. Every summer about 100 children participate to learn trail construction, hiking etiquette, railroad history, and social and leadership skills. In addition, the NMRTA has set aside special rail-trail projects for Scouts to use in earning Eagle Scout Badges. Thus far, four scouts have completed rail-trail projects that have served to demonstrate their organizing and leadership skills and have earned Eagle Scout Badges. In a similar vein, at the request of the School for the Visually Handicapped in Alamogordo, workdays are organized and conducted by the NMRTA for their visually handicapped students, who express great pleasure in "giving a little back to the community". Also, from time to time, various adult organizations request a special tour of the rail trail during conferences in order to learn more about the history of the railroad. These tours are conducted by NMRTA members. Finally, the NMRTA assists the Forest Service on occasion in various standard trail and forest construction projects that the Forest Service needs to get done. For example, the NMRTA arranged, through donations, to acquire materials at about half-price and installed an asphalt-paved trail that can be used by the physically handicapped to reach a view point just off the Cloud-Climbing Trestle Rail Trail. The NMRTA built, under a grant from the Recreational Trails program, an ADA accessible viewing deck at the end of this trail.