New Mexico

The Wheeler Peak Wilderness now contains a total of 19,661 acres and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. All of the wilderness is in the state of New Mexico.

Public land becomes wilderness through legislation passed by the United States Congress in the form of public laws. For the Wheeler Peak Wilderness, this process began in 1964 when 6,051 acres were designated by Public Law 88-577.

The West Malpais Wilderness now contains a total of 39,400 acres and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. All of the wilderness is in the state of New Mexico.

Public land becomes wilderness through legislation passed by the United States Congress in the form of public laws.

El Malpais National Conservation Area was established in 1987 at the same time as the adjoining El Malpais National Monument. These two areas are managed by different federal agencies. The 263,000-acre El Malpais NCA is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The NCA includes two wilderness areas -- West Malpais and Cebolla -- covering almost 100,000 acres.

The 45,000-acre Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is a remote desolate area of steeply eroded badlands which offers some of the most unusual scenery found in the Four Corners region. Time and natural elements have etched a fantasy world of strange rock formations and fossils. It is an ever-changing environment that offers the visitor a remote wilderness experience. Translated from the Navajo language, Bisti means *a large area of shale hills* and is commonly pronounced (Bis-tie).

The Sandia Mountain Wilderness now contains a total of 37,877 acres and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. All of the wilderness is in the state of New Mexico.

Public land becomes wilderness through legislation passed by the United States Congress in the form of public laws. For the Sandia Mountain Wilderness, this process began in 1978 when 30,930 acres were designated by Public Law 95-237.

The Cibola National Forest is 1,949,637 acres in size. Elevation ranges from 5,000-11,301 feet. Our forest includes the Datil, Gallinas, Magdalena, Bear, Manzano, Sandia, San Mateo, Mt. Taylor, and Zuni Mountains. There are four wildernesses contained within our forest: the Sandia Mountain, Manzano Mountain, Withington, and Apache Kid. The Cibola National Grasslands are located in northeastern New Mexico, western Oklahoma, and northwestern Texas, and are 263,954 acres in size.

The Pecos Wilderness now contains a total of 223,333 acres and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. All of the wilderness is in the state of New Mexico.

Public land becomes wilderness through legislation passed by the United States Congress in the form of public laws. For the Pecos Wilderness, this process began in 1964 when 165,000 acres were designated by Public Law 88-577.

The Gila Wilderness now contains a total of 558,014 acres and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. All of the wilderness is in the state of New Mexico.

Public land becomes wilderness through legislation passed by the United States Congress in the form of public laws. For the Gila Wilderness, this process began in 1964 when 438,360 acres were designated by Public Law 88-577.

The Dome Wilderness now contains a total of 5,200 acres and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. All of the wilderness is in the state of New Mexico.

Public land becomes wilderness through legislation passed by the United States Congress in the form of public laws. For the Dome Wilderness, this process began in 1980 when 5,200 acres were designated by Public Law 96-550.

The Dome Wilderness is part of the 106 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System.

With the Rocky Mountains to the west, the Great Plains to the east, and the Chihuahuan Desert to the south, Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge encompasses a diversity of habitats. Located along the Central Flyway, the Refuge provides an important resting, feeding, and wintering area for migrating geese, ducks, and cranes.

Las Vegas NWR rests on a plateau in the foothills with the Rocy Mountains just beyond. River canyon walls drop below the refuge on three sides. Las Vegas (Spanish for "the meadows") preserves both wildlife habitats and a slice of New Mexico's rich cultural history.