Sun Mountain
Credit: Don J. Usner
Sun Mountain provides an iconic backdrop for Santa Fe and is a favorite hiking destination within the city limits--the property, known as the Watson Estate, has been popular among hikers ever since the Watson family began allowing public access here in the 1930s. When 23 acres on the mountain's western flank were slated to be carved into a dozen large home tracts, the community rallied to save this special place and asked TPL for help.
In the Fall of 2009, working closely with residents, the landowners, and the city, TPL crafted a consensus solution to preserve the land and raised $3.2 million needed for its purchase. Roughly half of the land will remain private, protected by a conservation easement that limits future development to just two homes, while trails on that land will remain open to the public. Protection of the other half as city-owned open space creates hiking access to the summit for the first time.
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