The Zuni community is nestled in some of the most beautiful landscapes that make the Southwest so special. Just steps outside of our tight knit village are areas where people can enjoy trails that go through forests, mesas, and the outskirts of residential areas. The ability to be active while connecting to our homelands is an important value that ZYEP aims to emphasize.
Established Trails
In 2014, ZYEP and the Zuni Health & Wellness Coalition established a trail system with 50+ miles of marked trails across nine distinct routes. It is important to ZYEP and Zuni that we do not practice invasive forms of development or disturb any of our culturally significant sites, so these trails are primarily ancestral routes that have been used for generations and identified by our cultural leaders as appropriate. The trails are easily accessible and connect to most residential neighborhoods in Zuni. Named after the Zuni directional system and significant animals, the trails include trailhead signs with inspirational Zuni phrases to motivate community members, as well as distance and directional markers every half-mile.
Improved Access
The trail system has improved access for Zuni’s 10,000+ residents so they can safely walk, jog, run, and bike. We believe that community access to trails is critical to health, and doing so in a culturally respective way will ensure the sustainable health initiative.
