Cruces Basin Wilderness

Cruces Basin Wilderness is a 18,876-acre (7,639 ha) wilderness area located within the Carson National Forest in New Mexico just south of the Colorado border. The area was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System on December 19, 1980 by Public Law 95-550.[1] With elevations ranging from 8,525–10,840 feet (2,598–3,304 m), the basin contains numerous creeks as well as forest, meadows, and rock features.[2][3]

Cruces Basin Wilderness
IUCN category Ib (wilderness area)
Location New Mexico, United States
Area18,876 acres (7,639 ha)
Established1980-12-19
Governing bodyU.S. Forest Service

Flora and fauna

The area consists of spruce-fir, ponderosa pine, and aspen forests as well as high elevation grassy meadows.[2] A large fire in 1879 cleared old-growth forest, making room for the aspen forests and meadows present today.[2] The area provides habitat for elk, deer, mountain lion, black bear and coyote.[2] Creeks contain brook, brown, and rainbow trout, as well as beaver.[4]

References
  1. "Cruces Basin Wilderness Fact Sheet" (PDF). Wilderness.net. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
  2. Julyan, Bob; Till, Tom (1999-02-01). New Mexico's Wilderness Areas: The Complete Guide. Big Earth Publishing. ISBN 9781565792913.
  3. "Carson National Forest - Recreation". www.fs.usda.gov. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
  4. Beacham, Van (2010). Flyfisher's Guide to New Mexico. Wilderness Adventures Press. ISBN 9781932098822.

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