National Forests in the so-called “desert” state of New Mexico cover
more than 8.5 million acres, about 11 per cent of the state’s area.
National Monuments and Carlsbad Caverns National Park only extend over
about 430 square miles but cover ten of New Mexico’s most scenic areas
that are of national geologic, archeologic, and historic interest. These
are our national heritage, set aside by the federal government for the
perpetual equal use of all Americans.
The forests cap the higher ranges of the state, except on windblown
peaks that extend above the timberline. They provide protection for the
watersheds that feed New Mexico’s rivers, supply about 125 million board
feet of cut timber each year, and yield forage for more than 150,000
cattle and sheep. Picnic nooks and camp grounds are plentiful, fish
abound in the rushing mountain streams, and big game awaits the hunter
throughout the forest lands. The primitive virgin wilderness is
preserved in its natural state, accessible only by pack trip, in the
Gila Wilderness area of the Diablo and Mogollon mountains north of
Silver City and the Pecos Wilderness area east of Santa Fe in the Sangre
de Cristo Mountains.
Incomparable Carlsbad Caverns is in the state’s only National Park.
National Monuments include the glistening gypsum dunes of White Sands,
the volcanic cone of Capulin Mountain, the prehistoric ruins of Chaco
Canyon, Aztec Ruins, Bandelier, and Gila Cliff Dwellings, the Spanish
ruins at Gran Quivira, Inscription Rock at El Morro, and the crumbling
walls of old Fort Union. In the near future, Valle Grande may be added
to the National Park System and will include Valle Caldera, one of the
world’s largest volcanic calderas, a mountainous jumble with cool
streams, thick coniferous forests, and lush high meadows.