Wild Rivers Backcountry Byway repairs

Weaving and twisting around the Wild Rivers Recreation Area like the Rio Grande itself is a 13-mile loop of paved road unlike any other in New Mexico. Visitors can experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the 800-foot canyon sliced into the landscape of the Río Grande del Norte National Monument, while catching glimpses of wildlife and 500-year-old forests. All behind the wheel of a car.

The Wild Rivers Backcountry Byway is a closed-loop, double-lane road which provides visitors to the area with scenic views and easy access to recreation areas, trails and recreational facilities. It is often used for school visits and field trips, architectural and geological surveys, along with horseback riding and fishing tours. As it moves through the recreation area, the byway houses multiple access points for sightseeing, camping and fishing, as well as trails for mountain biking and hiking.

But, like anything worth experiencing, the byway needs some love. Originally constructed in the 1960s, and with more than 10,500 annual visitors, the byway was last repaved more than 20 years ago, although the most recent repair project took place in 2022. As a result of its popularity, some sections of the pavement are riddled with chips and cracks. Using funding from the Great American Outdoors Act, the Bureau of Land Management Taos Field Office will be repairing a 3.24-mile section of the road, which will extend the life of the byway, while also increasing safety for visitors and their vehicles.

“This project will improve access by upgrading the road,” said BLM Río Grande del Norte National Monument Park Ranger Teddy Lucero. “It will also enhance the visitor's experience by adding bike lanes and making the road safer to travel with large RVs and camping trailers.”

One of the main benefits of the project will be improving a section of the loop nicknamed “Ice Hill,” so called because it is mostly shaded from the sun, making it difficult for ice on the road to melt during the winter. This project will also reconfigure “Ice Hill” to allow for more consistent exposure to the sun, improving safety and decreasing risk along the roadway.

“This is such an important project,” said BLM Taos Field Manager Eric Valencia. “We are so pleased to improve the scenic byway within the Wild Rivers Recreation Area and provide greater access to the grand beauty of the Monument.”

In 2023, the Bureau of Land Management obligated nearly $7.5 million in GAOA funds for project design and construction.

To design the project, the field office turned to the Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD), a section of the Federal Highway Administration. The CFLHD manages all phases of the project through construction completion, managing materials, scheduling, budgets and quality assurance.

“This project has a number of benefits to the public,” said CFLHD Project Manager Solomon Haile. “Aside from providing a safer space for cyclists and pedestrians, the project will make the recreation area more accessible for families and visitors with varying mobility levels.”

Initially requested in 2014, the project was divided into three segments: entrance road, loop road and remaining areas. However, the project failed to materialize due to budget constraints. The BLM and CFLHD were undeterred though, and in 2020 enough funding was secured to begin the project, this time under a two-segment design. Construction on the first phase of the project continued through 2023, with the team completing improvements and construction on the loop road segment of the project.

Following the completion of the first phase of the project, it appeared as though more time would be required to obtain the funds required to finish out the project and complete the construction on the second segment.

Enter the Great American Outdoors Act.

With the funding available from GAOA, the project was revitalized without any significant delay, and the CFLHD began construction on the second phase of the project, with a focus on improving safety and accessibility for all users and visitors. Construction is currently underway, with completion scheduled sometime in November 2025. Following completion, they will complete plans for the final phase of the project.

“Better infrastructure is important because it invites more people to enjoy outdoor activities and promotes physical health and well-being,” said Haile. “Increased visitation also stimulates local economies through tourism and creating local job opportunities.”

During the current phase, the construction team will widen the road to 28 feet, while flattening curves that will reduce accident risks. They will also replace culverts and upgrade cattleguards.

As construction continues, the byway will remain open to users, although sections that are being repaired or worked on will go from two lanes to one during construction.

For more information visit Wild Rivers Backcountry Byway.