Aden Lava Flow Wilderness Study Area

Mount Riley in the distance, from the Aden Lava Flow Wilderness Study Area

A view at Aden Lava Flow WSA

The Aden Lava Flow Wilderness Study Area includes about 25,287 acres in southern New Mexico. The landscape is a mix of volcanic craters, basalt flows and coppice sand dunes. The lava flow itself includes pressure ridges, lava tubes and steep-walled depressions up to 100 feet wide. Vegetation in the area consists of grasslands and desert shrubs: mesquite, creosote bush, grasses, cacti and yucca. The black lava flows and vent tubes provide homes for black-tailed rattlesnakes, rock pocket mice and many, many bats.

Access to Aden Lava Flow is via a county-maintained dirt road. 2WD vehicles can get there in dry times but they'll want some clearance on the road. In wet times even 4WD vehicles can be challenged.

There are no marked trails in the wilderness study area: you'll want a good map, good hiking shoes (lots of lava out there), plenty of water (because there is none out there) and perhaps a good GPS device.

The Aden Lava Flow Wilderness Study Area is within the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.

Aden Lava Flow Wilderness Study Area map