Udall Announces New National Recreation Trail in Farmington

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) today announced that the Berg and Animas Trail has been added to the National Recreation Trails system. New Mexico is home to 17 units of the National Park Service which includes parks, monuments and historic trails.

The announcement comes as part of a series of designations across the country by the U.S. Department of the Interior adding almost 650 miles of trails to the system in 17 states.

"New Mexico is blessed with an abundance of unique outdoor spaces and landscapes that attract people from across the country," Udall said. "This new designation will provide New Mexicans and visitors alike with another place for fitness, nature and cultural activities in the Four Corners Region."

The Animas and Berg Parks are home to a four-mile network of trails along the Animas River. Trails run along the river's edge and wind through groves of native cottonwoods and cross the river by bridge at two points. In addition to providing terrestrial recreation, the trails are used to put in or take out for the purposes of running the river by canoe, kayak or raft.

National Trails Day is Saturday, June 4, and encourages organized activities such as hikes, educational programs, bike rides, train rehabilitation projects, festivals, paddle trips and trail dedications across the country.