Robledo Mountains Wilderness

The Robledo Mountains Wilderness is a 16,776-acre property wholly contained within the boundaries of the Desert Peaks unit of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. This is an area of gentle slopes, limestone cliffs, deep canyons, caves and small riparian areas. The vegetation is composed of scattered junipers, mesquite, creosote bush, diverse cacti and desert grasses. Elevations vary from about 4,600 feet to about 6,200 feet. There are no marked or maintained trails in the area.

To get there: Exit Interstate 25 about 15 miles north of Las Cruces at NM 157 (Radium Springs/Fort Selden). Go southwest about 1.5 miles to NM 185/North Valley Drive. Go north on that for about 1.75 miles to County Road D59/Faulkner Canyon Road. Turn southwest on that: the road wraps around the northwest part of the wilderness and is cherry-stemmed into the property to the summit of the local high point (Robledo Mountain itself is to the south). The wilderness area is inside that bend in the road and to the south and southeast from there. The road usually requires 4WD with good clearance, even in the best of times.