Saving Land. For Everyone. Forever.

About the Santa Fe Conservation Trust

Conserving Land

Since 1993, the Santa Fe Conservation Trust has partnered with many landowners to protect their properties in perpetuity. The Santa Fe Conservation Trust currently owns two fee properties and holds 96 conservation easements protecting over 42,000 acres, and we own 4 fee title properties totaling over 900 acres, in Santa Fe, San Miguel and Rio Arriba counties. We monitor these beautiful, protected lands annually, in perpetuity, ensuring they increase in value to society over time as growth comes to the Land of Enchantment.

Trails

SFCT has been involved in the creation of the Dale Ball Trails, Atalaya Trail, Santa Fe Rail Trail, the Spur Trail, La Tierra Trails, La Piedra Trail and – with the Commonweal conservancy – the Galisteo Basin Preserve Trails.  SFCT Trails Program works in partnership with the City of Santa Fe, SFCT’s volunteer group, The Trails Alliance of Santa Fe, and other entities to coordinate trail development and construction, organize volunteer trail work, identify and prioritize trail linkages, promote the trails, and provide the public with trail information and access through education programs and events.  SFCT’s Passport to Trails Program has provided field trips to over 3,000 fourth and fifth graders in Santa Fe Public Schools to introduce them to Santa Fe’s trail system.  The Grand Unified Santa Fe Trail Organization (GUSTO) initiative aims to create an interconnected system of natural surface trails that allows non-motorized users to travel in a loop around the greater Santa Fe area, as well as between the city center and the periphery.

Dark Skies

In 1999, New Mexico enacted the Night Sky Protection Act; its purpose is to regulate outdoor night lighting fixtures to preserve and enhance the state’s dark sky while promoting safety, conserving energy and preserving the environment for astronomy. One of the first of its kind in the U.S., the Night Sky Protection Act makes dark skies a priority in New Mexico for the health of its people, wildlife, and economy.

In 2008, SFCT created our Dark Skies program, to educate the community about the importance of the connection between land and sky conservation and the Six Easy Steps to Bring Back the Stars. Hundreds of people have participated in our educational Star Party events, done in collaboration with the Capital City Astronomy Club, Santa Fe Garden Club, Santa Fe Southern Railway, Salazar Elementary, and Commonweal Conservancy. We continue to celebrate land conservation in New Mexico and the importance of dark skies for future generations.

VÁMONOS

Santa Fe has many options for interesting walks and hikes, and VÁMONOS offers several walks each month that you can join in on.  Get to know Santa Fe’s beautiful parks and trails, and meet others who like to walk by joining us on a free VÁMONOS walk.  Group walking will help you stay motivated and meet others who like to walk.  We have all levels of walkers, so you can walk at your own pace.

Who We Are

Sarah Noss speaks to the Santa Fe Conservation Trust’s beginnings, and our current mission programs. Special thanks to Hutton Broadcasting.

Upcoming Events

Sep
30
Sat
9:00 pm Wetland Monitoring Workshop @ Conservation Homestead
Wetland Monitoring Workshop @ Conservation Homestead
Sep 30 @ 9:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Wetland Arroyo Monitoring Workshop: Ecotone staff will teach and guide up to ten volunteers about measuring success indicators of wetland restoration work performed in the Wetland Arroyo at the Conservation Homestead. The workshop is on[...]
Oct
3
Tue
5:30 pm Vamonos Take a Walk on the South... @ Southside Library
Vamonos Take a Walk on the South... @ Southside Library
Oct 3 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Vamonos Take a Walk on the South Side @ Southside Library
Take a Walk on the South Side Southside Library to Arroyo Chamiso Trail Meet at 6599 Jaguar Dr
Oct
6
Fri
6:00 pm Stargazing in the Galisteo Basin
Stargazing in the Galisteo Basin
Oct 6 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Stargazing in the Galisteo Basin
Galisteo Basin Night Sky.  Photo by Tony Bonanno. Join us for a celebration of our dark skies at a private home on conserved land in the Galisteo Basin. Gaze through multiple telescopes, learn from astronomers[...]
Oct
7
Sat
9:30 am Vamonos Hike – Pecos Nat’l Monument @ Pecos National Historical Park
Vamonos Hike – Pecos Nat’l Monument @ Pecos National Historical Park
Oct 7 @ 9:30 am – 1:00 pm
Vamonos Hike - Pecos Nat'l Monument @ Pecos National Historical Park
Saturday, October 7, 9:30 AM – 1 PM Free Event, bus transportation provided Join us for a beautiful hike through the Pecos National Monument on the South Pasture Loop dirt trail, 3.8 miles. No dogs,[...]
Oct
12
Thu
5:30 pm Vamonos – Find a New Path @ Rabbit Rd Trailhead
Vamonos – Find a New Path @ Rabbit Rd Trailhead
Oct 12 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Vamonos - Find a New Path @ Rabbit Rd Trailhead
Find a New Path Rail Trail @ Rabbit Rd Trailhead Meet at 249-251 Rabbit Rd

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