The El Malpais WSA consists of several independent tracts of land under consideration for wilderness designation in conjunction with lands proposed for wilderness within the El Malpais National Monument. One tract includes Little Hole in the Wall, a "kipuka" (a Hawaiian term meaning island of fertile ground), which lava flowed around on all sides leaving grassland segregated by a sea of broken, jagged basalt. This area is covered by piсon-juniper woodlands and open stands of ponderosa pine. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail passes through this WSA.
New Mexico Public Lands Recreation Guide. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
El Malpais WSA
https://www.blm.gov/visit/el-malpais-wsa
The El Malpais WSA consists of several independent tracts of land under consideration for wilderness designation in conjunction with lands proposed for wilderness within the El Malpais National Monument. One tract includes Little Hole in the Wall, a "kipuka" (a Hawaiian term meaning island of fertile ground), which lava flowed around on all sides leaving grassland segregated by a sea of broken, jagged basalt. This area is covered by piсon-juniper woodlands and open stands of ponderosa pine. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail passes through this WSA.
Alien Run Mountain Bike Trails
NORTHWEST NEW MEXICO
The 7,242-acre wilderness is in a badland area of rolling,
water-carved clay hills. The area, rich in fossils, has yielded
numerous specimens important to science.
Alien Run Mountain Bike Trails
Ojito Wilderness
Alien Run consists of three looped mountain bike trails
that cover more than 26 miles. The original loop and the
Outer Limits Trail encircle a rumored UFO crash site. The trail
features swooping flow trail, rim riding, slickrock sections,
and tight turns through the piñon-juniper woodland. The
Alien Run Outer Limits extension features rocky climbs and
plunging downhills. The trail is known for including one of
the largest selections of slickrock in New Mexico.
Deep, meandering arroyos offer miles of terrain in which to
wander amid canyons, cliffs, and some colorful geological
formations. Summer monsoon rains often provide just enough
rain to make this area flourish with blooming desert plants.
Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness
Angel Peak Scenic Area
Within this 10,000-acre area rises the scenic Angel Peak, at
nearly 7,000 feet. A short nature trail leads to an overlook
of blue and gray shale badlands formed from floodplains of
ancient rivers. Angel Peak has three picnic areas with ADA
accessible toilets. The campground has nine sites available
for tent camping. There are ADA accessible restrooms. No
drinking water or electrical hookups are available.
Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness
A favorite with photographers for its hoodoo formations,
the wilderness is a remote, desolate area of steeply eroded
and colorful badlands. Time and natural elements have
created strange rock formations here and some of the most
extraordinary scenery in New Mexico.
Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area
More than 800 acres are available for off-highway vehicle
(OHV) enthusiasts in this sand dune area.
Glade Run Recreation Area
The Glade Run Recreation Area offers many miles of
motorized and nonmotorized trails through piñon-juniper
woodland with sandstone bluffs, sandy arroyos, and
badlands. Jeeps, utility-type vehicles (UTVs), all-terrain
vehicles (ATVs), dirt bikes, mountain bikes, equestrians, and
hikers will all find a place to play. Ten designated campsites
are available at the Brown Springs Campground, which
has shelters, picnic tables, campfire rings, two vault toilets,
a group shelter with large grill, and a tot lot track for kids
on dirt bikes or ATVs. Designated and dispersed camping
in the recreation area requires a free permit from the BLM.
The recreation area is known for its national class rock
crawling, having hosted the Grand Nationals Rock Crawling
Championships for many years. The oldest continuously held
mountain bike race in the United States, the Road Apple
Rally, also takes place here.
Details are available in site
descriptions or on the map side charts.
Bring plenty of water for you and
your pet. Many BLM sites do not offer
facilities or drinking water.
NM Statewide Recreation Brochure
BLM/NM/GI-19/006+8000
Looking for a map, book, permit, or
recommendation to explore your
public lands? Visit the Public Lands
Information Center at the BLM’s
New Mexico State Office; 301
Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM
87508. Call (505) 954-2002 or
(877) 276-9404 (toll free), or
visit www.publiclands.org.
Head Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle
Recreation Area
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Bureau of Land Management
BLM New Mexico State Office
301 Dinosaur Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87508
(505) 954-2000
www.blm.gov/new-mexico/recreation
In the “Land of Enchantment,” the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) oversees outdoor recreation and many
other activities on more than 13 million acres of public land.
New Mexico’s public lands are diverse, encompassing high
deserts, rugged lava flows, badlands, deep canyons, wild and
scenic rivers, wilderness, and other distinctive landscapes.
The majority of BLM-managed public land is open for
recreational use, and opportunities abound for hiking,
hunting, fishing, camping, horseback riding, off-roading, and
other activities. The BLM also manages National Conservation
Lands (NCLs), public lands with exceptional qualities. These
special areas are managed to conserve and protect nationally
significant landscapes recognized for their outstanding
cultural, ecological, and scientific values. They also contain
some of New Mexico’s most spectacular landscapes.
New Mexico’s NCL units include four national monuments;
two national conservation areas; three national scenic and
historic trails; two wild and scenic rivers; 18 wilderness
areas; and 47 wilderness study areas (WSAs). Those WSAs
with legal public access are listed at the end of each
mapback section. WSAs are places that are characterized by
“naturalness” and that Congress is considering designating
and protecting as wilderness—places that offer outstanding
opportuni