Jicarilla RD
1110 Rio Vista Lane, #2
Bloomfield, NM 87413
(505) 632-2956
Carson National Forest
208 Cruz Alta Road
Taos, NM 87571
(575) 758-6200
LAS CRUCES
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CLOVIS!
54
SANTA ROSA
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40
GRANTS
ALBUQUERQUE
40
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SANTA FE
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RATON
2018
Photo by Gak Stonn
Forest Service
Southwestern Region
Fishing at Hopewell Lake
Some of the finest alpine downhill skiing in the US is found at Taos Ski Valley, Red
River, and Sipapu Ski Areas. While nordic skiing can be found throughout the
forest, the Enchanted Forest Cross-Country Ski Area provides miles of groomed
cross-country ski trails.
Wilderness
Roughly 8 percent of Carson National Forest
(over 130,000 acres) contains
congressionally designated wilderness.
These areas are lands set aside to preserve
wild America, where humans are only
visitors, the environment is untrammeled and
unconstrained, and land management
activities take a back seat to natural
processes. In wilderness, there are no roads;
travel is by foot, horseback, or canoe.
Mechanized equipment, including bicycles
and drones, is not allowed. Group size is
limited to 15 people to protect resources.
Whether in wilderness or elsewhere on
public lands, please pack out your trash!
Each year thousands of visitors come to the
Carson to fish, hunt, and view wildlife,
providing an important source of income for
businesses and local communities. Big game
species such as black bear, elk, and mule
deer are common on the Carson. Bighorn
sheep are frequently seen at higher
elevations and pronghorn antelope forage on
the grasslands.
Other wildlife include the reclusive
mountain lion, porcupine, bobcat, various
smaller mammals, and almost 134 species of
birds. Due to its wide range of elevations
and corresponding vegetation types, the
forest has a diverse fauna that includes 53
fish species, 13 amphibians, 28 reptiles, 110
mammals, and 341 invertebrates.
Designated wilderness areas in the Carson
include Wheeler Peak, Latir Peak, Cruces
Basin, Columbine-Hondo, Chama River, and
Pecos.
The unique 100,000 acre Valle Vidal Unit,
donated by Pennzoil Company in 1982,
boasts spectacular scenery with vast open
meadows and abundant wildflowers.
Management of this area prioritizes wildlife,
which includes a trophy elk herd of up to
2,000 head. Motorized travel is restricted
and special hunting and fishing seasons and
bag limits have been implemented. Two
seasonal closures, one winter and one
spring, help elk conserve resources during
harsh winter weather and protect them
during spring calving season.
Public land is managed in trust for all
citizens and international visitors. Inform
yourself regarding local conditions and
requirements for your safety by checking
with local offices, reading signs, and
reviewing bulletin boards. Changing terrain
and weather conditions present a variety of
hazards, including but not limited to snow,
landslides, slick roads, falling trees or limbs,
high waters, wild animals, severe weather,
becoming lost or overexerted, hypothermia,
and exposure to the unreasonable acts of
other people. Please recognize hazards and
take precautions.
After camping for 14 days, campers must
move a minimum of three miles (or to
another developed campground) and can
stay an additional 14 days, for a maximum
of 28 days in a 45 day period.
Other Points of Interest
Other points of interest in the area include
the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, the
Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, and the
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
(administered by the Bureau of Land
Management). Several Indian tribes in the
vicinity also welcome visitors into their
historic villages to view ceremonies
throughout the year.
Eagle Rock Lake
Community Partnerships
In addition to regular hunting and fishing
licenses, Habitat Improvement Stamps are
required in some areas of the Carson. These
are available at many local sporting goods
stores along with regular licenses and
printed copies of New Mexico Game and
Fish Regulations. Some fishing is limited to
artificial lures with a single barbless hook.
For a full list of requirements check the New
Mexico Game and Fish Regulations.
Shuree Ponds on Valle Vidal
Be Responsible
Campfires are allowed in the forest except
during times of extreme fire danger. Before
you head into the forest, always check to see
if campfire restrictions are in place for your
destination. NEVER build a fire on a windy
day. NEVER leave a campfire unattended –
keep a shovel and water close by. ALWAYS
put your campfire out COLD; mix and stir
coals with water and dirt. Crush cigarette
butts completely.
Photo by Jim O’Donnell
Questa RD
P.O. Box 110
184 SR 38
Questa, NM 87556
(575) 586-0520
Camino Real RD
P.O. Box 68
15160 SR 75
Peñasco, NM 87553
(575) 587-2255
New Mexico
The Carson has 400 miles of cold mountain streams and numerous lakes, many
stocked with native trout by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
Popular fishing streams include La Junta, Santa Barbara, El Rito, Rio Pueblo, Rio
Hondo, Rio Costilla, Red River, Rio San Antonio, and of course, the nearby Rio
Grande. Anglers preferring lakes travel to Hopewell or Cabresto, among many
others. Fishing and hunting are open to anyone with a license, which is regulated by
the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Water from the Carson National
Forest provides drinking and irrigation water for many communities in New Mexico.
Photo by Gak Stonn
Tres Piedras RD
P.O. Box 38
22280 US 64
Tres Piedras, NM 87577
(575) 758-8678
Canjilon RD
P.O. Box 469
SR 115, Bldg. 358
Canjilon, NM 87515
(575) 684-2489
For maps and other information, contact:
There are numerous miles of non-motorized and motorized forest system trails on the Carson.
Many trails follow creeks or provide access to mountaintops and vary in level of maintenance
across the forest. The Carson has several trails of national significance and recognition including
three National Recreation Trails (Columbine-Twining, South Boundary, and Jicarita Peak trails),
two National Historic Trails (The Camino Real de Tierra Adentro Trail and the Old Spanish Trail),
and one National Scenic Trail (Continental Divide Trail). Most unimproved (high-clearance) forest
Biking on the Camino Real Ranger District
system roads are open to off-highway vehicle (OHV) use, but please remain on designated open
roads and trails as listed in the
Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). Traveling cross-country, taking shortcuts, and
cutting switchbacks damages fragile resources. The MVUM and other maps are
available at district offices and online. System roads may be closed seasonally due to
weather conditions and for the protection of wildlife.
Photo by Gak Stonn
Office hours
8am - 4:30pm MT
(subject to change)
www.fs.usda.gov/carson
Pocket Guide
Recreation
Carson National Forest offers year-round
recreational opportunities. Over one million
people visit the forest annually, 89 percent of
whom come for recreational purposes.
Recreation and tourism are the largest economic
contributors to this area. The magnificent
mountain scenery and cool summer temperatures
lure vacationers to enjoy the peace and quiet for
fishing, hunting, camping, birding, biking,
hiking, backpacking, four-wheel drive exploring,
photography, and plein air painting. Winter
activities include skiing, snowshoeing, and
snowmobiling. Permitted outfitters are available
to guide and assist visitors with many of these
activities. Both the Enchanted Circle and High
Road to Taos Scenic Byways offer passenger car
access to many trailheads and access points.
Snowshoeing at US Hill
Most developed campgrounds open the weekend
before Memorial Day and some open sooner.
Many campsites, including sites for large groups and campgrounds near fishing areas such as Agua
Piedra, Hopewell Lake, and Elephant Rock, can be reserved at www.Recreation.gov.
San Antonio Mountain on Tres Piedras Ranger District
Wildlife
Crossing the Rio Grande, the Carson becomes high plateau from 8,000 to nearly 11,000 feet in
elevation. Open meadows, rich in wild flowers, are interspersed with stands of spruce, fir, and
aspen. Farther to the west, the remote Jicarilla District contains high mesas, ponderosa pine,
piñon-juniper forests, and a large herd of wild horses.
Photo by Gak Stonn
Cover photo by Jim O’Donnell
RG-R3-02-05
El Rito RD
P.O. Box 56
Hwy. 554, Bldg. 1221
El Rito, NM 87530
(575) 581-4554
Carson
Photo by Angie Higdon
The eastern part of the Carson is noted for virgin spruce-fir forests, high alpine valleys, and cool
mountain streams. Elevations range from just over 7,000 feet near the town of Taos to 13,161 feet
at Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico.
Wheeler Peak in winter
United States Department of Agriculture
Named after fabled frontier scout Kit Carson,
Carson National Forest spans much of Northern
New Mexico, and is part of the Forest Service’s
Southwestern Region. The Carson boasts over
1.5 million acres of spectacular mountain
scenery, winter and summer recreation, diverse
wildlife, solitude, historic and cultural sites, as
well as sources for grazing, mining, logging, and
Wild horses on the Jicarilla Ranger District
firewood collecting. The Carson Forest
Supervisor’s office in Taos oversees ranger
district offices in Peñasco, Questa, Tres Piedras, Canjilon, El Rito, and Bloomfield.
Water
Water is the lifeblood for all activities and is
especially vital in the arid Southwest. Most
of the water in this region comes from the
Tusas and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The
Forest Service is charged with protecting
and improving the water producing
capabilities of these watersheds. Rain and
snow on the Carson brings 12 to 40 inches
of water per year. Trees, grass, and shrubs
use some of this moisture. Their roots
stabilize the soil, allowing the remaining
water to feed underground basins, creeks,
springs, and manmade water developments.
The Carson contributes over 40 percent of
the waters that flow into the Rio Grande.
Photo by Gak Stonn
Photo by Jim O’Donnell
¡BIENVENIDOS!
Welcome to Carson National Forest
Increasing demand for the ecosystem
services provided by public lands such as
Carson National Forest drives the need to
engage further with community partners to
accomplish land management goals. Forest
personnel meet with local communities and
partners such as the Enchanted Circle Trails
Alliance, Del Norte Mountain Bike Alliance,
Rio Grande Water Fund, Nature
Conservancy, and Rocky Mountain Youth
Corps, to name a few. Projects focus on
maintaining sustainable trail systems and
recreation facilities, restoring fire resiliency,
improving the ecosystem resiliency of
streams and wetlands, and involving people
in outdoor conservation education activities.
If you would like to be a Forest Volunteer,
please contact the nearest district office or
one of these organizations.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer
and lender.
Ash Mountain on Valle Vidal
To view the current Carson Pocket Guide
and MVUM maps with your smart device,
you may scan the QR codes below.
Pocket Guide
MVUM
https://www.fs.usda.gov/
main/carson/maps-pubs
https://www.fs.fed.us/r3/gis/
USFS_Southwestern_Region
_MVUM_Repository.html