San Antonio Wilderness

The San Antonio Wilderness was designated by Congress March 12, 2019 per the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act which set aside 8,120 acres of land. The establishment of a Wilderness Area identifies an area Congress has added to the National Wilderness Preservation System. The BLM manages these areas to ensure their unique wilderness characteristics, primitive recreation opportunities, solitude, and mostly undeveloped area are protected. To learn more about Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas, visit https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/wilderness  or Wilderness Connect. 

The San Antonio Wilderness is located in northern New Mexico. A flat plain with rich flora and wildlife at about 8,400 feet in elevation contains a gorge about 100 feet deep carved by the Rio San Antonio. Because of upstream diversions, the lower stretches of the river go dry in the summer. The plain is grass and shrub covered, while the gorge includes stretches with Douglas fir and spruce. To access this area, one needs a high clearance, 4-wheel-drive vehicle as the road is not maintained and has large rocks.