BLM · New Mexico

Rio San Antonio Wilderness

The Rio San Antonio Wilderness is located within the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. A flat plain at about 8,400 feet in elevation contains a gorge about 100 feet deep carved by the Rio San Antonio. The plain is covered with grass and shrub, while the gorge includes stretches with Douglas fir and spruce.

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Rio San Antonio Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byBureau of Land Management
StateNew Mexico
Size8,120 acres
Designated2019, by Congress
Center point36.95° N, 106.06° W
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 27)

Boundary map

1 outline

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

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Rio San Antonio Wilderness10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.21 inches of precipitation, 4.6 inches of snowFebruary: 0.22 inches of precipitation, 3.0 inches of snowMarch: 0.43 inches of precipitation, 5.5 inches of snowApril: 0.53 inches of precipitation, 3.6 inches of snowMay: 0.59 inches of precipitation, 0.4 inches of snowJune: 0.40 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 1.08 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.58 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.12 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 0.67 inches of precipitation, 2.5 inches of snowNovember: 0.49 inches of precipitation, 4.5 inches of snowDecember: 0.43 inches of precipitation, 5.6 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 19.9°F averageFebruary: 26.9°F averageMarch: 36.8°F averageApril: 44.1°F averageMay: 52.8°F averageJune: 61.3°F averageJuly: 64.9°F averageAugust: 62.9°F averageSeptember: 56.5°F averageOctober: 45.7°F averageNovember: 32.9°F averageDecember: 21.0°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Manassa, 17 miles from the center point at 7,695 feet, station USC00055322 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 8 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 30 inches a year on the same inches scale.

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

Campsite Atlas →

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.

Fire nearby

Within 50 miles · as of 2026-11-01
  • Prescribed
    Rito Hondo Piles Rx

    9 mi from the center point · 60 acres

  • Prescribed
    Mogote Campground Piles Rx

    13 mi from the center point · 72 acres

  • Prescribed
    Martinez Fall Rx

    16 mi from the center point

  • Prescribed
    Willow Irtc Piles Fall Rx

    18 mi from the center point · 411 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Register listings within 15 miles · 5 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Guidebooks for New Mexico

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Rio San Antonio Wilderness?

8,120 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Rio San Antonio Wilderness?

The Bureau of Land Management.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Rio San Antonio Wilderness in?

New Mexico.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Rio San Antonio Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 2019.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How do I get to Rio San Antonio Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 36.949° N, 106.060° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Is there a fire near Rio San Antonio Wilderness right now?

4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rito Hondo Piles Rx at 9 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.

Source: Fire nearby

Are there historic places near Rio San Antonio Wilderness?

The National Register has 5 listings within 15 miles, including Engine No. 463 and Denver & Rio Grande Railroad San Juan Extension (Boundary Increase).

Source: Register Atlas

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.