Cebolla Wilderness, Wilderness area in New Mexico, United States

Cebolla Wilderness covers 61,600 acres in Cibola County, New Mexico, within the El Malpais National Conservation Area. Its rimrock country of sandstone canyons and mesas rises from 7,000 to 8,200 feet and includes La Ventana Natural Arch. The wilderness borders Acoma Pueblo to the east and El Malpais National Monument and Highway 117 to the west.

Between 1000 and 1300 AD, ancestors of today's Pueblo peoples built the Dittert Site, leaving traces of settlements throughout the region. This early occupation demonstrates that people lived and worked in these lands for centuries before modern times.

The sandstone walls throughout the area display numerous petroglyphs left by indigenous peoples, showing how these communities were connected to these lands. Visitors walking through can see these rock carvings as evidence of generations who lived and traveled here.

The area can be accessed via Highway 117, with multiple entry points throughout the conservation area. Visitors should prepare for changing weather and uneven terrain, bringing adequate water and sturdy footwear for hiking.

The east side of the wilderness borders Acoma Pueblo, whose reservation land has kept this rimrock country from being developed. The sandstone mesas and canyons rise between 7,000 and 8,200 feet, and the La Ventana Natural Arch is the landmark most visitors look for. The area was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System on December 31, 1987, by Public Law 100-225.