McKinley County Find Your Joy

05/22/2026

McKinley County has received a $530,629 grant to complete Phase II of the McKenzie Ridge Trail Connector project. The funding was awarded through the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Recreational Trails Program.

The county has already completed 14 miles of the connector trail, and this grant will fund construction of the final 10 miles. Once finished, the McKenzie Ridge Trail will connect the McGaffey trail system with the Twin Springs trail system. McGaffey currently offers more than 50 miles of existing trails, while Twin Springs is expected to feature approximately 30 miles of trails when fully developed.

The project is part of the larger Zuni Mountain Trail Partnership, an initiative focused on developing 250 miles of trails across five riding areas in the Zuni Mountains. Two of those trail systems — Quartz Hill and McGaffey — have already been completed.

05/11/2026

We had a great time at the Gallup-McKinley County Schools Bike Rally in Tohatchi this weekend. It was amazing to see so much support and enthusiasm for getting more kids on bikes!

05/06/2026

McKinley County believes in the power of outdoor recreation to help transform our local economy. This is one of the reasons why we have invested heavily in trails-based recreation. We have over 100 miles of trail in the county and we're continuing to build more. What's your favorite trail in McKinley County?

New federal data show outdoor recreation contributed $ $3.6 billion to New Mexico’s economy and supported more than 31,000 jobs in 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).

05/06/2026

Stage 1 fire restrictions are going into effect in the Cibola National Forest this week. That means no fires at your campsite in the McGaffey area, unless you are in a designated campground.

05/04/2026

Today is !

This image shows a group of gentlemen with their bicycles at Fort Wingate.

04/15/2026

Tucked into the beauty of the western edge of the Zuni Mountains, the Ramah Mormon Pioneer Trail offers a chance to explore wide-open landscapes shaped by history. This 2.5-mile loop climbs along a rocky ridge above Ramah Lake, with sweeping views of the surrounding mountains, Oso Ridge, and the community of Ramah. It’s a short hike with big scenery—and a perfect way to experience the quiet beauty of western New Mexico.

https://www.trailforks.com/trails/ramah-mormon-pioneer-trail/

04/10/2026

Two entities from McKinley County received funding this round: San Isidro and the Three Sisters Farm and Cottonwood Gulch both received funding in the amount of $99,000 to build trails on their properties. A huge thank you and congrats to everyone who is taking advantage of the funding offered through the NM Outdoor Recreation Division to make McKinley County and New Mexico a better place.

Congratulations to the final round of FY26 Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant recipients! $6 million has been awarded to 39 projects across 21 counties and will support an estimated 288 jobs.

Recipients bring additional value to these projects with $4.8 million in matching funds and 29 of the projects awarded will enhance outdoor access in rural and Tribal communities.

ORD is proud to invest in projects that support healthy forests and watersheds, encourage economic growth and provide residents with safe and innovative opportunities to enjoy New Mexico's great outdoors.

Read the full press release for details at nmoutside.com/news.


📸 Enchanted Circle Trails Association