Wheeler Peak Wilderness
Wheeler Peak Wilderness is a 19,154-acre wilderness area in Taos County, New Mexico. It rises from about 7,780 to 13,150 ft. The nearest town is Taos Ski Valley, 0.7 miles away in a straight line.
Wheeler Peak Wilderness map
Wheeler Peak 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
- Taos Ski Valley, NM is the nearest town, 0.7 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Wheeler Peak Wilderness is about 13,150 ft, and its lowest about 7,780 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Wheeler Peak, about 13,150 ft.
Who manages Wheeler Peak Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 19,154 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Questa Ranger District, 575-586-0520 |
Getting to Wheeler Peak Wilderness
- Taos Ski Valley, NM is the nearest town, 0.7 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Wheeler Peak Wilderness
- East Fork Th (inside the boundary, 9,833 ft), at 36.5994, -105.3819
- Gavilan Trailhead (0.02 mi outside the boundary, 8,906 ft), at 36.5930, -105.4840
- Italianos (0.06 mi outside the boundary, 8,659 ft), at 36.5845, -105.4955
- Middle Fork Th (0.08 mi outside the boundary, 9,672 ft), at 36.6115, -105.4121
- Yerba Trailhead (0.13 mi outside the boundary, 8,236 ft), at 36.5697, -105.5179
- Manzanita Trailhead (0.27 mi outside the boundary, 8,375 ft), at 36.5749, -105.5069
- Williams Lake Trailhead (0.72 mi outside the boundary, 10,215 ft), at 36.5793, -105.4399
- Bull Of Woods/Wheeler (0.97 mi outside the boundary, 9,468 ft), at 36.5970, -105.4490
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Wheeler Peak Wilderness
- Wheeler Peak summit
- Mount Walter summit
- Simpson Peak summit
- Gavilan Canyon canyon
- Horseshoe Lake 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.
Campgrounds in and around Wheeler Peak Wilderness
Cuchilla camping (0.2 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
Fishing and water
- Red River East Fork fishing (0.3 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Red River West Fork fishing (0.3 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
Public lands next to Wheeler Peak Wilderness
- National forestWheeler Peak Wilderness lies inside Carson National Forest.
- Wilderness areaColumbine-Hondo Wilderness is 0.1 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
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.