Whitethorn Wilderness
Whitethorn Wilderness is a 9,616-acre wilderness area in Luna County, New Mexico. It rises from about 4,142 to 4,335 ft. The nearest town is City of the Sun, 20.3 miles away in a straight line.
Whitethorn Wilderness map
Whitethorn 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
- City of the Sun, NM is the nearest town, 20.3 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Whitethorn Wilderness is about 4,335 ft, and its lowest about 4,142 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model).
Who manages Whitethorn Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLM | 9,616 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record |
Getting to Whitethorn Wilderness
- City of the Sun, NM is the nearest town, 20.3 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
- Access roads named on the area's wilderness.net page: Interstate 10.
Position, roads and vehicle notes: wilderness.net page for Whitethorn Wilderness, accessed 2026-09-30. Roads and conditions change; check with the managing office before driving in.
Public lands next to Whitethorn Wilderness
- BLM unitWhitethorn Wilderness lies inside Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks National Monument.
- Wilderness areaWhitethorn Wilderness borders Cinder Cone Wilderness.
- Wilderness areaPotrillo Mountains Wilderness is 0.7 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)
The sentences on this page are generated by software from the sourced records above, not written by hand. How this content is made.