Whitethorn Wilderness
The Whitethorn Wilderness is named for the prevalent white-thorn acacia, a key year-round food source for quail and a summer food source for desert mule deer. The volcanic landscape is characterized by...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | New Mexico |
| Size | 9,616 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 2019, by Congress |
| Center point | 32.0248, -107.3095 |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 31) |
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
- PrescribedRx Ice Canyon Piles 2
47 mi from the center point · 10 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.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Whitethorn Wilderness?
9,616 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Whitethorn Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Whitethorn Wilderness in?
New Mexico.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Whitethorn Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2019.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Whitethorn 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 Whitethorn Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 32.025, -107.309. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Whitethorn Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Rx Ice Canyon Piles 2 at 47 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Whitethorn Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 31 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.
Source: NASA Black Marble
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.