BLM · New Mexico

Sierra de las Uvas Wilderness

The Las Uvas Mountains Wilderness is located in the south-central portion of New Mexico in the Chihuahuan Desert. The area is a mountain complex of tilted, bedded volcanic rock. The western slopes are gentle, while cliffs dominate the east side. The landform is characterized by mesas, buttes, and canyons. These volcanic mountains support outstanding high desert grasslands, sustaining thriving populations of quail, deer, javelina, and other wildlife. The vegetation is primarily grasses and desert shrubs, with juniper on north facing slopes at higher elevations. Rimrock along the mesas provides nesting sites for many raptors. Three different Native American cultures left their marks in various sites throughout these scenic mountains.

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Sierra de las Uvas Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byBureau of Land Management
StateNew Mexico
Size11,114 acres
Designated2019, by Congress
Center point32.56° N, 107.19° W
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 25)

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 Sierra de las Uvas Wilderness40°50°60°70°80°90°January: 0.49 inches of precipitationFebruary: 0.51 inches of precipitationMarch: 0.25 inches of precipitationApril: 0.32 inches of precipitationMay: 0.41 inches of precipitationJune: 0.69 inches of precipitationJuly: 1.88 inches of precipitationAugust: 2.01 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.80 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.01 inches of precipitationNovember: 0.60 inches of precipitationDecember: 0.66 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 43.7°F averageFebruary: 48.2°F averageMarch: 55.2°F averageApril: 62.1°F averageMay: 70.9°F averageJune: 80.4°F averageJuly: 83.3°F averageAugust: 81.1°F averageSeptember: 74.4°F averageOctober: 63.7°F averageNovember: 52.3°F averageDecember: 43.5°F average0 in0.5 in1 in1.5 in2 in2.5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Caballo Dam, 24 miles from the center point at 4,239 feet, station USC00291286 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 11 inches a year. The station sits about 1,600 feet lower than the center point, so temperatures on the ground run cooler.

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.

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Register listings within 15 miles · 2 in all · Register Atlas

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

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 Sierra de las Uvas Wilderness?

11,114 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Sierra de las Uvas Wilderness?

The Bureau of Land Management.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Sierra de las Uvas Wilderness in?

New Mexico.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Sierra de las Uvas Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 2019.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How do I get to Sierra de las Uvas Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 32.565° N, 107.194° 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 Sierra de las Uvas Wilderness?

Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail (27 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.

Source: Nearby on the other atlases

Are there historic places near Sierra de las Uvas Wilderness?

The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Fort Selden and Rio Grande Bridge at Radium Springs.

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.