Ojito Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in Sandoval County, New Mexico.
Ojito Wilderness is a protected area in New Mexico featuring steep mesas, rocky terraces, box canyons, and colorful sandstone formations across roughly 11,800 acres. The landscape displays diverse desert geology with striking rock structures throughout the terrain.
Congress designated this area as a wilderness in 2005, with portions transferred to the Pueblo of Zia Indian Reservation. This official protection has preserved the landscape for future use.
The area holds archaeological remains from different peoples who adapted to desert life over centuries. Visitors walking through the landscape can still spot traces of these earlier inhabitants today.
The area is reached via U.S. 550 and County Road 906 from Bernalillo, with two marked entry points available. Clear trailhead markers help visitors navigate the desert landscape safely.
Scientists found the skeleton of one of the largest dinosaurs, the Seismosaurus, preserved in rocks from the Jurassic period within this area. This paleontological site continues to attract researchers and visitors interested in ancient life.
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