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CDTC Celebrates Gateway Communities in the Bootheel

May 9, 2024

The two southernmost CDT Gateway Communities celebrated important milestones in April – the designation ceremony of Hidalgo County, New Mexico as a Gateway Community and the ten-year anniversary of Silver City, New Mexico’s designation! CDTC staff spent time in these neighboring communities last month to celebrate these achievements in partnership with community members and local organizations.

Hidalgo County, New Mexico: CDT Gateway Community Designation Ceremony

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Members of the Hidalgo County community and CDTC representatives participated in a ribbon cutting at the designation ceremony.

The Hidalgo County Commissioner signed a resolution making Hidalgo County the newest CDT Gateway Community in January, after years of work by community members towards this designation. Located in New Mexico’s beautiful and unique bootheel region and home to the southern terminus of the CDT, most thru-hikers pass through Hidalgo County at the beginning or conclusion of their journey. On Friday, April 12, Hidalgo County hosted its official Gateway Community designation ceremony. With speeches from local representatives, nonprofit organizations, community members, and CDTC staff, the ceremony highlighted the importance of collaboration and outdoor recreation in the community. 

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CDTC staff led a community hike on the CDT, including many young hikers who participate in the Bootheel Youth Association.

The ceremony kicked off the second annual Explore Hidalgo County Outdoors Festival, an initiative aimed at engaging community members and visitors in Hidalgo County’s outdoor recreation opportunities. Throughout the weekend, the festival included performances by local musicians, hands-on activities for kids, and a CDTC-led group hike on the CDT. Staff members were able to meet community members and celebrate the importance of Hidalgo County’s new designation. 

While in Hidalgo County, CDTC hosted a visioning workshop for community members. The workshop was led by a Colorado State University graduate student in coordination with CDTC staff, and focused on identifying community assets and opportunities related to the CDT., The workshop was a fitting way to conclude Hidalgo County’s designation weekend and gave participants spaces to create a shared vision for their Hidalgo County as a Gateway Community. 

Silver City, New Mexico: CDT Trail Days 2024

The following weekend, CDTC staff gathered in Silver City to celebrate an extra-special CDT Trail Days that also marked the tenth anniversary of Silver City’s designation as a CDT Gateway Community. Silver City was the first-ever CDT Gateway Community. CDT Trail Days is a celebration not only of the CDT, but of Silver City as a community. Each year, Trail Days brings together local organizations, community members, and thru-hikers for a weekend of camaraderie around outdoor recreation.

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At Saturday’s Gila Earth Day x CDT Trail Days Festival, attendees interacted with local organizations, including meeting animals and enjoying activities!
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Many thru-hikers from the CDT Class of 2024 convened in Silver City for Trail Days.
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Trail Days began with a VIP Celebration at Open Space Brewing, including a special-brewed “Trail Days Haze.”
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Throughout Friday, community members gathered at The Silco Theater to hear from a range of speakers, including a wolf biologist, indigenous leaders, and local young filmmakers.
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The grand prize of the raffle at Friday’s Kickoff Fiesta was an apple pie, baked by CDTC’s own Executive Director!
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During Sunday morning’s Community Hikes, some participants joined guides from the Silver City Visitor Center for a historic tour of the town.
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On Saturday night, thru-hikers and community members gathered at the newly-renovated Silver City Waterworks Site for an Intentional Hiking discussion led by Renee Patrick. Participants shared thoughts about the relationship between communities and thru-hikers while enjoying smores.

For CDTC’s Community and Outreach team, these events drove home how much Gateway Communities achieve through collaboration. Local organizations and community members were at the heart of each event, and neither would have been possible without their support and involvement. 

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