Pecos Wilderness

Deep and narrow canyons, long and broad mesa tops, heavily forested slopes and rugged ridges with peaks above timberline characterize the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Pecos Wilderness. This small mountain chain is the extreme southern extent of the Rocky Mountains. On the western side steep canyons drain toward the Rio Grande; to the east lies the relatively gentle upper Pecos River Valley, an area of broad flat mesas and grassy meadows. High country elevations range from 8,400 feet to 13,103 feet atop South Truchas Peak, the state's second highest point. At least 15 of the lakes offer first-rate fishing, as do 150-plus miles of sparkling streams, where rainbow trout, brown trout and New Mexico's state fish, the Rio Grande cutthroat, can all be found. These waters head the Wild and Scenic Pecos River, for which the Wilderness is named. The scenery varies from 100-foot waterfalls and crumbled talus slopes to dramatic rock cliffs, towering peaks and wildflower meadows best caught in July and August. Engelmann spruce, corkbark fir, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, white fir, limber pine, bristlecone pine and aspen are the predominant timber species. Equally diverse is the wildlife: elk, deer, bear, turkey and one of America's healthiest herds of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. The northern section includes about 25,000 acres in Carson National Forest, the least visited portion of the Wilderness. The rest of this large area lies in Santa Fe National Forest, with easy access from Santa Fe, Albuquerque and surrounding towns. Most hikers come during the summer months to explore the extensive trail system, and there are restrictions on camping along most of the lakeshores in order to protect wilderness values.