Cruces Basin Wilderness
Cruces Basin Wilderness is an 18,881-acre wilderness area in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. It rises from about 8,511 to 10,872 ft. The nearest town is Chama, 12.5 miles away in a straight line.
Cruces Basin Wilderness map
Cruces Basin 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
- Chama, NM is the nearest town, 12.5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Cruces Basin Wilderness is about 10,872 ft, and its lowest about 8,511 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model).
Who manages Cruces Basin Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 18,881 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Tres Piedras Ranger District, 575-758-8678 |
Getting to Cruces Basin Wilderness
- Chama, NM is the nearest town, 12.5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Cruces Basin Wilderness
- Osha Canyon canyon
- Beaver Tank lake
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-30.
Public lands next to Cruces Basin Wilderness
- National forestCruces Basin Wilderness lies inside Carson 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)
The sentences on this page are generated by software from the sourced records above, not written by hand. How this content is made.