Withington Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in San Mateo Mountains, New Mexico.
Withington Wilderness is a protected area in the San Mateo Mountains featuring steep terrain carved by deep canyons and varied vegetation zones. The landscape rises from lower desert scrub to dense conifer forests at higher elevations throughout the region.
Congress established this section of Cibola National Forest as designated wilderness in 1980, placing it under permanent protection. This designation reflected the nation's commitment to preserving undeveloped natural landscapes for future generations.
The wilderness forms part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, representing New Mexico's commitment to maintaining natural landscapes without human development.
Visitors access the area from US Highway 60 via Forest Service Road 549, where multiple trailheads begin within a short distance. Spring through fall offers the most accessible conditions for exploring the terrain.
The lower eastern sections host desert plants like ocotillo that seem out of place in a mountainous region, creating an unexpected ecological transition. This sharp contrast between habitat types occurs over a remarkably short distance.
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