El Salto Project

El Salto – The Leap

We are excited to announce the purchase of 144 acres of forested mountaintop and hillside that will be protected from development. The property is located in El Salto, just west of Cuchilla del Medio Peak and the famous El Salto waterfalls, and overlooks the Taos Valley. From the ridgeline, the property meets the Wheeler Peak Wilderness to the north. Looking south, one can see the Town of Taos, the ancient Pedernal volcanic mesa, and the sharp and craggy Truchas peaks. Join us as we leap into this conservation project over the next several years.

Overview

The purchase consists of 15 parcels that were pieced together by philanthropist and developer Tom Worrell in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Worrell, a long-time past Taos resident is well known for his preservation and complete restoration of many historic and important structures in Downtown Taos. His footprint is ever present in Taos and we are honored to now be entrusted with the 144 acres in El Salto that he personally and patiently assembled over the course of several years. Tom Worrell sought to find stewards for this land who represented the belief of a Native American proverb that guided him during his time in Taos: “we do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow if from our children.” 

We now aim to enhance that vision by placing a conservation easement on the property to restrict or minimize any future development to this critical wildlife habitat and open space. Bear, deer, elk, and mountain lions abound. Eagles and hawks soar overhead. Even the threatened Mexican spotted owl finds a shelter here. The seasonal arroyos feed into the El Salto watershed and help keep the area’s acequia traditions flowing year after year.

Next Steps

This parcel also sits within the highest-priority area for wildfire mitigation treatments, according to the current Taos County Community Wildfire Prevention Plan. We will begin to conduct work on this piece in summer 2026, tying together a decade of work that has occurred on nearby properties to create a regional fire break that will help to protect homes and critical watersheds. We will employ our own Youth Conservation Corps Crew, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, private contractors, and local woodcutters to help remove fire fuels.

Taos Land Trust will also begin a series of conversations with neighbors, community members, elected officials, and key stakeholders such as Taos Pueblo and the United States Forest Service. These conversations will inform the longterm use, stewardship, and management of the property. We also need volunteers to help us document the numerous plant and animal species, and identify any possible cultural sites.

Gratitude

The purchase was made possible by generous contributions from the River Branch Foundation, the Worrell Foundation, the Franklin Family, Lynn Aldrich, and some donors who wish to remain anonymous. We’d also like to thank our staff, board of directors, attorney Jake Caldwell, Jennifer Rice of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Taos Real Estate, John Cancro of Taos Properties, our new neighbors in El Salto, and the Taos community for 38 years of support. Taos Land Trust now seeks additional funding to pay for planning and maintenance. Please reach out to us if you would like to support this project or other conservation work in New Mexico.

Por La Tierra!