Capitan Mountains Wilderness
Capitan Mountains Wilderness is a 35,091-acre wilderness area in Lincoln County, New Mexico. It rises from about 5,709 to 10,199 ft. The nearest town is Capitan, 9.2 miles away in a straight line.
Capitan Mountains Wilderness map
Capitan Mountains Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Agency fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
County and local burn bans may also apply on private, state, or county land nearby. On federal land, follow the land manager's order; off it, follow the strictest county or local rule that applies. When both touch your trip, obey both.
Common questions
- Capitan, NM is the nearest town, 9.2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Capitan Mountains Wilderness is about 10,199 ft, and its lowest about 5,709 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Capitan Peak, about 10,076 ft.
Who manages Capitan Mountains Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 35,091 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Smokey Bear Ranger District, 575-257-4095 |
Getting to Capitan Mountains Wilderness
- Capitan, NM is the nearest town, 9.2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Capitan Mountains Wilderness
- Summit Trailhead (0.1 mi outside the boundary, 10,173 ft), at 33.6060, -105.3600
- Seven Cabins (0.17 mi outside the boundary, 6,997 ft), at 33.6320, -105.3110
- Pine Lodge (0.33 mi outside the boundary, 6,267 ft), at 33.6270, -105.2420
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Capitan Mountains Wilderness
- Capitan Peak summit
- Sunset Peak summit
- Chimney Rock summit
- Seven Cabins Canyon canyon
- Alice Spring spring
- Figure Seven Spring spring
- Bear Trick Tank lake
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-30. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.
Public lands next to Capitan Mountains Wilderness
- National forestCapitan Mountains Wilderness lies inside Lincoln National Forest.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in New Mexico
- wilderness.net (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- www2.census.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- apps.fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
The sentences on this page are generated by software from the sourced records above, not written by hand. How this content is made.