Named for the great president, the Lincoln National Forest, with
headquarters at Alamogordo, has characteristics distinguishing it from
all other National Forests in the state. The high mountains and canyons
of the Sacramento, Guadalupe, Capitan, and White mountains, rising
between the Tularosa and Pecos basins, were the backdrop and often the
prize of the Indian and cattle wars. Stories and legends of early day
happenings in the Tularosa Basin, mining operations, battles between
rival cattle ranchers, large timber operations providing lumber, poles,
mine props, and railroad ties are warp and woof of the Lincoln country.
This Forest includes the high mountains north and south of the Mescalero
Apache Indian Reservation.
During the last decade, the Lincoln National Forest gained new fame as
the birthplace of the world-renowned Smokey the Bear, symbol of forest
fire prevention. In the Capitan Mountains, travelers like to visit
Smokey’s birthplace near Capitan Pass, and in the community of Capitan
on U.S. Highway 380 is a log museum which features the activities of the
bear cub found near there during a disastrous fire.
For the outdoor enthusiast, the Forest offers superb beauty, graceful
and majestic snow-covered peaks, and the peace and serenity of a forest
sanctuary. Each year, thousands of visitors from the plains seek its
cool refuge from desert heat in summer and its readily accessible sports
area in the winter. Ten campgrounds with many picnicking and camping
sites are provided. Canyons, mountains, and streams in many instances
feature anglicized names—Big Dog Canyon, Mule Peak, Bug Scuffle
Hill—though the influence of the early Spanish settler still remains in
names such as Sacramento, Agua Chiquita, Ruidoso, and Rio Penasco.
Lincoln National Forest abounds in points of interest; Monjeau Lookout
overlooks the headwaters of the Bonito, Eagle, and Ruidoso creeks as
well as the tall slopes of Sierra Blanca to the southwest. Sierra
Blanca, 12,003 feet high, is the most southerly mountain of that
elevation in the continental United States. Just north of the peak is
the Sierra Blanca Recreation Area, with one of the finest and
best-equipped skiing facilities in the country. The restaurant and
gondola lift operate during summer months, and from Lookout Mountain
observation site, near the gondola’s upper terminal, the traveler can
view White Sands, the Malpais (lava flow), and the 28,000-acre White
Mountain Wild Area.
Hunters find deer of three distinct types in this Forest—the Rocky
Mountain mule deer, the desert mule deer, and the Texas white-tailed
deer—and, of course, black bear from which family Smokey the Bear came.
Game birds like wild turkey, quail, and chukkar partridge challenge the
hunter. Fishing the Lincoln’s lakes and streams is a recurring delight
to the angler. Aspens and oaks flaunt their brilliant autumn coloring
against the warm green of pines and spruces, heralding the advent of
winter snows and provoking numerous aspencades for those who wish a
share in this ever new pageant of nature’s beauty.
Like all the National Forests, the Lincoln is managed for the production
and wise use of water, timber, and forage for livestock and wildlife and
outdoor recreation. District ranger stations are at Cloudcroft,
Carlsbad, Mayhill, Ruidoso, Sacramento, and Capitan.
[Illustration: “_Anybody for a run?_” at Sierra Blanca ski area]