Mount Riley Wilderness
The Mount Riley Wilderness contains three shield volcanos which rise prominently in the landscape. Mount Riley is the highest point in the region, rising abruptly over 1,700 feet above the surrounding desert plain to an elevation of nearly 6,000 feet. Chihuahuan Desert grassland and yucca, in association with a mosaic of other desert shrubs such as creosote, acacia, and mesquite, make up the majority of the plant cover in the area. Isolated clumps of netleaf hackberry and other desert trees are found in the lava flow where depressions or deeper pockets of soil hold extra water after rainfall. Occasional juniper trees are also found on mountain slopes and in larger drainages. Raptors are common, especially during the winter.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | New Mexico |
| Size | 8,382 acres |
| Designated | 2019, by Congress |
| Center point | 31.92° N, 107.07° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 30) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
Guidebooks for New Mexico
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Mount Riley Wilderness?
8,382 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Mount Riley Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Mount Riley Wilderness in?
New Mexico.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Mount Riley Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2019.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Mount Riley Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 31.917° N, 107.074° W. Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail is 27 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Mount Riley Wilderness?
Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail (27 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.