Salt Creek Wilderness
Migratory waterfowl may consider this a sufficient winter home, but birders will see it as paradise. From October through February, the seasonal wetlands in and surrounding Salt Creek Wilderness play host...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | New Mexico |
| Size | 9,621 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1970, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.5964, -104.4150 |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 29) |
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.
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.
Fire nearby
- WildfireSanders
46 mi from the center point · 50 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
- 9.4 miHenge, The ↗Roswell, NM
- 9.6 miMilne--Bush Ranch ↗Roswell, NM
- 9.6 miUrton Orchards ↗Roswell, NM
- 10.1 miGoddard, Robert H., House ↗Roswell, NM
- 10.8 miRoswell Artist-in-Residence Compound ↗Roswell, NM
- 11.4 miGarrett, Patrick Floyd, House ↗Roswell, NM
- 12.2 miSlaughter--Hill Ranch ↗Roswell, NM
- 12.7 miMassey, Louise, House ↗Roswell, NM
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Salt Creek Wilderness?
9,621 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Salt Creek Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Salt Creek Wilderness in?
New Mexico.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Salt Creek Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1970.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Salt Creek Wilderness?
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Salt Creek Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.596, -104.415. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Salt Creek Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Sanders at 46 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Salt Creek Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 29 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Salt Creek Wilderness?
12 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Henge, The and Milne--Bush Ranch.
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.