Por Shelby Bazan, Outings Leader and Jazzari Taylor, Policy Advocate
Earlier this spring, Latino Outdoors New Mexico explored the La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site, located within Caja del Río near Santa Fe on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Home to an estimated 4,000 petroglyphs, the site offers a remarkable window into the region’s cultural history. The 107,000-acre Caja del Río Plateau is one of the Southwest’s most culturally and ecologically significant landscapes, containing thousands of petroglyphs, sacred sites, wildlife corridors, and lands that continue to support the traditions and lifeways of surrounding Tribal Nations and Hispano communities.
What participants expected to be a scenic hike quickly became something much more meaningful as they encountered centuries of stories etched into stone. One participant captured the experience perfectly, saying, “I thought we were going on a hike, but instead we’re in an art gallery!” Through shared discovery and conversation, participants connected with one another while developing a deeper appreciation for a landscape that continues to inspire and educate visitors today.
As participants learned about the cultural and ecological significance of Caja del Río, they also learned about ongoing efforts to protect it. Tribal Nations, local government, community members, and partner organizations like New Mexico Wild, have worked together to advance protections for this treasured landscape. In a powerful example of the connection between place and policy, New Mexico’s congressional delegation introduced the Caja del Río Protection Act in both the House and the Senate just one week after the outing to permanently protect the Caja del Río. By experiencing the landscape firsthand, participants gained a deeper understanding of why conservation matters and how community voices can help shape the future of the places they love.
The outing reflected the power of the *Latino Outdoors Outings Framework, connecting participants to the 4 P’s: People to People, Place, Process, and Policy through a single shared experience. Participants were not only introduced to the remarkable “art gallery” of petroglyphs at La Cieneguilla, but were also invited to consider what it means to protect the landscapes, wildlife, cultural resources, and communities connected to them. One participant shared that they never would have considered a hike like this before, but left with more confidence and inspired by the experience.
As Latino Outdoors continues building community across the country, the Caja del Río outing offers a powerful example of how intentional outdoor experiences can spark curiosity, foster belonging, and empower people to become advocates for the places they love. We invite you to join an outing, learn more about the public lands in your community, and take action to protect them. Take Action to support permanent protections for Caja del Río and defend national monuments like Grand Staircase-Escalante. Our collective voices help shape the future of these treasured landscapes. Every voice matters, and every action helps ensure these places endure for generations to come.