Dome Wilderness

Dome Wilderness seems dwarfed by the adjacent Bandelier Wilderness, but sometimes the best gifts come in small packages. In this case, be prepared for primitive canyonlands and prehistoric ruins — and take care not to disturb the latter. You will also find an abundance of wildflowers and strawberries in spring. From high points near Saint Peters Dome you can see all the way east to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and south to the Cochiti Lake region and the Sandia and Manzano mountains. Elevations peak at 8,200 feet, then drop to 5,800 feet at Sanchez Canyon. The Saint Peters Dome Trail, 6.1 miles, gives access to this Wilderness, starting on the north end near the Dome Lookout and losing elevation as it runs south past canyon walls and through stands of large pines, then across Sanchez Creek, a fishless stream that endures periods of extremely low water. The two-mile Capulin Trail also begins in the northern portion of the area and ends at the Bandelier National Monument boundary. Designated in 1980 and managed by the U.S. Forest Service.