Hikes Return as BLM Sets Full September Schedule at Dripping Springs, La Cueva

The month also marks one of the final opportunities to attend a series of patio chats presented by Conservation Corps New Mexico interns.

Source: Bureau of Land Management – Las Cruces District (via Facebook)
Images: Courtesy

With cooler days approaching, guided hikes are returning to the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument as the Bureau of Land Management rolls out a full schedule of public programs for September.

The month also marks one of the final opportunities to attend a series of patio chats presented by Conservation Corps New Mexico interns. Programs range from local history and water in the desert to native plants, outdoor safety and community exploration.

All programs are free, although the standard $5 per vehicle day-use fee applies at Dripping Springs Natural Area.

• Friday, Sept. 4, 6 p.m. — Dripping Springs
  Patio Chat: “Lake Valley Historic Town Site” with Amy. Meet on the porch of the A.B. Cox Visitor Center.
• Saturday, Sept. 5, 11 a.m. — Dripping Springs
  Patio Chat: “El Camino Real Trail” with Oona. Meet on the A.B. Cox Visitor Center porch.
• Friday, Sept. 11, 6 p.m. — Dripping Springs
  Patio Chat: “The Organ Mountains and How the Landscape Shaped History” with Javier. Meet on the A.B. Cox Visitor Center porch.
• Saturday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m.–noon — Plaza de Las Cruces
  Public Lands Palooza, featuring outdoor recreation vendors, mariachi and ballet folklórico.
• Friday, Sept. 18, 6 p.m. — Dripping Springs
  Patio Chat: “Honing a Sense of Exploration in Our Community” with Laila. Meet on the A.B. Cox Visitor Center porch.
• Saturday, Sept. 19, 8 a.m. — Dripping Springs
  Guided Hike: Explore what life may have been like at Dripping Springs hundreds to thousands of years ago during a three-mile roundtrip hike with Tom Dormody. Meet at the A.B. Cox Visitor Center Native Plant Garden. RSVP required.
• Saturday, Sept. 19, 11 a.m. — Dripping Springs
  Patio Chat: “Who Owns the Water? How Water Shaped Power at Dripping Springs and the Surrounding Desert” with Nayeli. Meet on the A.B. Cox Visitor Center porch.
• Sunday, Sept. 20, 8 a.m. — La Cueva
  Guided Hike: Join Tom Dormody for a two-mile roundtrip exploration of what attracted Indigenous people, a hermit, ranchers and wildlife to La Cueva over the millennia. Meet at the first La Cueva parking area. RSVP required.
• Saturday, Sept. 26, 11 a.m. — Dripping Springs
  Patio Chat: “Preventative Search and Rescue Through Community Involvement” with Micah. Meet on the A.B. Cox Visitor Center porch.
• Saturday, Sept. 26, noon — Dripping Springs
  Patio Chat: “Native Plants for Your Yard” with Don. Meet on the A.B. Cox Visitor Center porch.

Reservations are required for the guided hikes and can be made through the Friends of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks events calendar. BLM notes that registration may not appear until closer to the program date.

Hikes travel across rough and uneven terrain. Participants should wear appropriate footwear and clothing, bring sun protection and plenty of water, and carry snacks as needed.

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Seating for patio chats is limited, and visitors who need to sit are encouraged to bring a camp chair.

For additional information, contact the BLM Las Cruces District Office education program at blm_nm_lcdo_education@blm.gov or call or text 575-494-3701.