The Ojito Wilderness is a desert landscape of steep-sided mesas, rocky
terraces, retreating escarpments, box canyons, deep meandering arroyos, and
austere badlands. Bands of multi-colored shale, sandstone, and limestone draw
attention to cliff sides. Occasional badland settings, with their unusual
hoodoos (weathered rock in the form of pinnacles, spires, cap rocks, and other
unusual forms), accent the landscape. Piñon and juniper are dotted throughout
the Wilderness, and rare stands of ponderosa pine can be found tucked into
shady recesses.

The Ojito Wilderness is a desert landscape of steep-sided mesas, rocky terraces, retreating escarpments, box canyons, deep meandering arroyos, and austere badlands.  Bands of multi-colored shale, sandstone, and limestone draw attention to cliff sides.  Occasional badland settings, with their unusual hoodoos (weathered rock in the form of pinnacles, spires, cap rocks, and other unusual forms), accent the landscape.  Piñon and juniper are dotted throughout the Wilderness, and rare stands of ponderosa pine can be found tucked into shady recesses.

Bird's eye view of the park

Ojito Wilderness Area

The Ojito WSA is located adjacent to, and is under consideration for addition
to, the Ojito Wilderness. Please visit the Ojito Wilderness webpage for more
information: www.blm.gov/nm/ojito.

The Ojito WSA is located adjacent to, and is under consideration for addition to, the Ojito Wilderness. Please visit the Ojito Wilderness webpage for more information: www.blm.gov/nm/ojito.

Ojito Wilderness Study Area

Tucked away in rugged and scenic country southwest of the community of San
Ysidro, New Mexico, is the White Ridge Bike Trails Area. Just to the west is
the newly designated Ojito Wilderness. Both sites are a short distance from
U.S. 550. This region is known for its geological, cultural and
paleontological resources, as well as for its scenic qualities. The bike trail
crosses a landscape of spectacular beauty and exceptional geology, meandering
through the Pueblo of Zia, State of New Mexico, and public land managed by the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM). BLM has obtained rights-of-way from the
Pueblo and the State to provide this biking experience. Although the Trails
have been developed primarily for mountain biking, hikers are welcome on the
entire trail system, and one segment is also open to equestrian use.

White Ridge is named for the color of the gypsum that forms much of the mesa
and the majority of the bike trails. Gypsum is a white mineral consisting of
hydrated calcium sulfate and is commonly used in cement, plaster and
fertilizer. This gypsum formed as a chemical reaction from evaporation of an
ancient water body. In other words, the Ojito area was once covered with
water! At the western edge of White Ridge, the Tierra Amarilla Anticline forms
high, narrow mesa ridges. This classic example of a plunging anticline is
visited by several university field schools each year.

Fossil remains of rare dinosaurs, plants, and trees from the Jurassic period
are located in the Morrison Formation. Natural erosion processes have exposed
the bones of huge dinosaurs and large segments of petrified trees. These
fossils are approximately 150 million years old! The longest dinosaur ever
recovered, Seismosaurus, was discovered only a few miles west of the bike
trails area in what is now the Ojito Wilderness. Paleontologists and
geologists use this great variety of life to construct geologic timelines and
interpret climate changes over the earth's history. Please leave these objects
in place.

Tucked away in rugged and scenic country southwest of the community of San Ysidro, New Mexico, is the White Ridge Bike Trails Area. Just to the west is the newly designated Ojito Wilderness. Both sites are a short distance from U.S. 550. This region is known for its geological, cultural and paleontological resources, as well as for its scenic qualities. The bike trail crosses a landscape of spectacular beauty and exceptional geology, meandering through the Pueblo of Zia, State of New Mexico, and public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). BLM has obtained rights-of-way from the Pueblo and the State to provide this biking experience. Although the Trails have been developed primarily for mountain biking, hikers are welcome on the entire trail system, and one segment is also open to equestrian use. 

White Ridge is named for the color of the gypsum that forms much of the mesa and the majority of the bike trails. Gypsum is a white mineral consisting of hydrated calcium sulfate and is commonly used in cement, plaster and fertilizer. This gypsum formed as a chemical reaction from evaporation of an ancient water body. In other words, the Ojito area was once covered with water! At the western edge of White Ridge, the Tierra Amarilla Anticline forms high, narrow mesa ridges. This classic example of a plunging anticline is visited by several university field schools each year. 
 
Fossil remains of rare dinosaurs, plants, and trees from the Jurassic period are located in the Morrison Formation. Natural erosion processes have exposed the bones of huge dinosaurs and large segments of petrified trees. These fossils are approximately 150 million years old! The longest dinosaur ever recovered, Seismosaurus, was discovered only a few miles west of the bike trails area in what is now the Ojito Wilderness. Paleontologists and geologists use this great variety of life to construct geologic timelines and interpret climate changes over the earth's history. Please leave these objects in place.

White Ridge Bike Trails

The San Ysidro Trials Area is a very unique destination where trials riders,
mountain bikers, and outdoor enthusiasts come to enjoy beautiful scenery and
technical recreation activities. Stone badland features are widely spread
within the area and create distinctive topographies, such as the delicate
ecosystems of tinajas. Tinajas**** are naturally formed stone bowls that fill
with water during the monsoon season and from snow melt. These pools provide
an oasis for migratory birds, game species, and many other microorganisms.

The San Ysidro Trials Area is a very unique destination where trials riders, mountain bikers, and outdoor enthusiasts come to enjoy beautiful scenery and technical recreation activities. Stone badland features are widely spread within the area and create distinctive topographies, such as the delicate ecosystems of tinajas. Tinajas are naturally formed stone bowls that fill with water during the monsoon season and from snow melt. These pools provide an oasis for migratory birds, game species, and many other microorganisms.

San Ysidro Trials Area

A mountain peak dominates the view from the one-mile Perea Nature Trail loop
-- located just outside the village of San Ysidro in northwest New Mexico. The
mountain highlights the Jemez Mountain Range, which is the southern start of
the Rocky Mountains that extend northward to Alaska. The Perea Nature Trail
offers a short, refreshing hike. Falling within a migratory bird pathway, this
trail offers great birdwatching opportunities. If you are looking for
solitude, try sitting on the park bench under the giant cottonwood along the
trail. Visitors to the Perea Nature Trail may look to the southwest over the
Rio Salado riverbed to view an outstanding geologic setting. Blanco Mesa,
known for its unusual white surface, is used as a creative backdrop for motion
pictures and photography. The high rock formations with purple hues seen in
the distance are part of the Nacimiento Mountain chain and are some of the
oldest rocks in the area.

A mountain peak dominates the view from the one-mile Perea Nature Trail loop -- located just outside the village of San Ysidro in northwest New Mexico. The mountain highlights the Jemez Mountain Range, which is the southern start of the Rocky Mountains that extend northward to Alaska. The Perea Nature Trail offers a short, refreshing hike. Falling within a migratory bird pathway, this trail offers great birdwatching opportunities. If you are looking for solitude, try sitting on the park bench under the giant cottonwood along the trail. Visitors to the Perea Nature Trail may look to the southwest over the Rio Salado riverbed to view an outstanding geologic setting. Blanco Mesa, known for its unusual white surface, is used as a creative backdrop for motion pictures and photography. The high rock formations with purple hues seen in the distance are part of the Nacimiento Mountain chain and are some of the oldest rocks in the area.

Perea Nature Trail

The Cabezon WSA is located in the northwestern part of the New Mexico and
consists of a large volcanic plug - a steep-sided symmetrical neck of volcanic
rock. At an elevation of 7,785 feet, this is the largest of a series of
volcanic plugs in this area and is one of the most well-known landmarks in
northwest New Mexico. This peak is a favorite among climbers. Basic mountain
climbing experience and proper gear, including a helmet, are needed, but most
will not choose to use a rope on the common route. A successful climb to the
summit will reward you with an expansive view of the Rio Puerco Valley.

The Cabezon WSA is located in the northwestern part of the New Mexico and consists of a large volcanic plug - a steep-sided symmetrical neck of volcanic rock. At an elevation of 7,785 feet, this is the largest of a series of volcanic plugs in this area and is one of the most well-known landmarks in northwest New Mexico. This peak is a favorite among climbers. Basic mountain climbing experience and proper gear, including a helmet, are needed, but most will not choose to use a rope on the common route. A successful climb to the summit will reward you with an expansive view of the Rio Puerco Valley.

Cabezon Wilderness Study Area

Guadalupe Ruin, the easternmost Chacoan Outlier, is a single-story masonry
pueblo situated on an isolated sandstone mesa rising nearly 200 feet above the
valley floor. The top of the mesa is isolated by sheer walls on all sides,
with access to the top restricted to a narrow trail. This mesatop location
provides an impressive view of dissected canyons, rugged mesas, and volcanic
necks along the Rio Puerco Valley. The ruin consists of at least 39
rectangular rooms and 7 semi-subterranean kivas, two of which are stabilized
and roofed for public access. Archeological investigations conducted in the
1970s suggest that the site was originally built as a Chacoan Outlier, but was
reoccupied in the late 13th century by immigrants from the Mesa Verde area,
who remodeled many of the rooms and built a new kiva in their own
architectural style.

Curiously, most Chaco Outliers are located north, west, and south of Chaco
Canyon, while Guadalupe stands out nearly alone in its eastern placement in
the Chacoan World and may have been positioned to take advantage and possibly
control of a migration and trade route between the San Juan Basin and the Rio
Grande, where seven of New Mexico's 19 modern Pueblos are located.

Chaco Background  
The sites of the Chacoans are among the best known archaeological sites in the
American Southwest. Between A.D. 700 and 1150, the Chaco Culture flourished,
with Chaco Canyon serving as the social and religious center of the Northern
Southwest. During the 900s and 1000s, a series of "Chacoan
Outliers,"structures similar to those in Chaco Canyon, was constructed in
western New Mexico, southwest Colorado, eastern Arizona and southeast Utah.
Many outliers were connected to Chaco Canyon or other outliers through a
network of prehistoric roads. The outliers and connecting roads offer a view
to an ancient landscape of astonishing scale and complexity. The Chacoan
region as defined by the distribution of outliers and Chaco Canyon itself was
recognized internationally though placement on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Guadalupe Ruin, the easternmost Chacoan Outlier, is a single-story masonry pueblo situated on an isolated sandstone mesa rising nearly 200 feet above the valley floor. The top of the mesa is isolated by sheer walls on all sides, with access to the top restricted to a narrow trail. This mesatop location provides an impressive view of dissected canyons, rugged mesas, and volcanic necks along the Rio Puerco Valley. The ruin consists of at least 39 rectangular rooms and 7 semi-subterranean kivas, two of which are stabilized and roofed for public access. Archeological investigations conducted in the 1970s suggest that the site was originally built as a Chacoan Outlier, but was reoccupied in the late 13th century by immigrants from the Mesa Verde area, who remodeled many of the rooms and built a new kiva in their own architectural style. 
 
Curiously, most Chaco Outliers are located north, west, and south of Chaco Canyon, while Guadalupe stands out nearly alone in its eastern placement in the Chacoan World and may have been positioned to take advantage and possibly control of a migration and trade route between the San Juan Basin and the Rio Grande, where seven of New Mexico's 19 modern Pueblos are located. 
 
Chaco Background 
The sites of the Chacoans are among the best known archaeological sites in the American Southwest. Between A.D. 700 and 1150, the Chaco Culture flourished, with Chaco Canyon serving as the social and religious center of the Northern Southwest. During the 900s and 1000s, a series of "Chacoan Outliers,"structures similar to those in Chaco Canyon, was constructed in western New Mexico, southwest Colorado, eastern Arizona and southeast Utah. Many outliers were connected to Chaco Canyon or other outliers through a network of prehistoric roads. The outliers and connecting roads offer a view to an ancient landscape of astonishing scale and complexity. The Chacoan region as defined by the distribution of outliers and Chaco Canyon itself was recognized internationally though placement on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Guadalupe Ruin

The northern portion of this WSA is arid, while the southern portion consists
of a higher plateau dominated by piсon and ponderosa pines. The diversity of
vegetation and landforms provide scenic appeal. Large numbers of elk use the
area, as well as coyotes, mule deer, and Merriam's turkey.

The northern portion of this WSA is arid, while the southern portion consists of a higher plateau dominated by piсon and ponderosa pines. The diversity of vegetation and landforms provide scenic appeal. Large numbers of elk use the area, as well as coyotes, mule deer, and Merriam's turkey.

Chamisa Wilderness Study Area

The La Leсa WSA is characterized by deep arroyos, highly sculpted mesas,
canyons, and sandstone and shale outcrops. This area is easily traveled by
horseback. Nesting sites for golden eagles, prairie falcon, great horned owl,
red-tailed hawk, and raven are found on sandstone cliffs. Vegetation includes
grama grass, cactus and Knight's milevetch. The Continental Divide National
Scenic Trail passes through this WSA.

The La Leсa WSA is characterized by deep arroyos, highly sculpted mesas, canyons, and sandstone and shale outcrops. This area is easily traveled by horseback. Nesting sites for golden eagles, prairie falcon, great horned owl, red-tailed hawk, and raven are found on sandstone cliffs. Vegetation includes grama grass, cactus and Knight's milevetch. 
 
The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail passes through this WSA.

La Lena Wilderness Study Area

The Ignacio Chavez Special Management Area (SMA) consists primarily of two
Wilderness Study Areas -- the Ignacio Chavez Wilderness Study Area (33,300
acres) and the Chamisa Wilderness Study Area (13,700 acres). For more
information on Wilderness Study Areas, please visit the Ignacio Chavez WSA
webpage.

Steep canyons and high rugged cliffs provide rewarding challenges for the
backcountry hiker here. Much of the Special Management Area lies within the
Ignacio Chavez Land Grant, awarded to settlers in 1768 by the Spanish
government for establishing communities. Because these communities were never
developed, the U.S. Government later acquired the land grant.

The Ignacio Chavez Special Management Area (SMA) consists primarily of two Wilderness Study Areas -- the Ignacio Chavez Wilderness Study Area (33,300 acres) and the Chamisa Wilderness Study Area (13,700 acres). For more information on Wilderness Study Areas, please visit the Ignacio Chavez WSA webpage. 
 
Steep canyons and high rugged cliffs provide rewarding challenges for the backcountry hiker here. Much of the Special Management Area lies within the Ignacio Chavez Land Grant, awarded to settlers in 1768 by the Spanish government for establishing communities. Because these communities were never developed, the U.S. Government later acquired the land grant.

Ignacio Chavez Special Management Area

The Empedrado WSA is characterized by deep arroyos, highly sculpted mesas,
canyons, and sandstone and shale outcrops. This area is easily traveled by
horseback. Nesting sites for golden eagles, prairie falcon, great horned owl,
red-tailed hawk, and raven are found on sandstone cliffs. Vegetation includes
grama grass, cactus and Knight’s milevetch.  
  
The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail passes through this WSA.

The Empedrado WSA is characterized by deep arroyos, highly sculpted mesas, canyons, and sandstone and shale outcrops. This area is easily traveled by horseback. Nesting sites for golden eagles, prairie falcon, great horned owl, red-tailed hawk, and raven are found on sandstone cliffs. Vegetation includes grama grass, cactus and Knight’s milevetch.
 
The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail passes through this WSA.