San Augustin Mountains, Mountain range near Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The San Augustin Mountains are a mountain range in the Chihuahuan Desert south of Las Cruces, marked by several prominent peaks including Bear Peak. The range is cut through by San Augustin Pass, which provides a major route between the city and the White Sands area.
The range formed a natural boundary between regions and served as a key passage point for centuries. The pass through the mountains improved connections between settlements and shaped the region's early trade routes.
The mountains served as a passage for people moving between the Tularosa Valley and the Rio Grande basin for generations. Walking through the range today, visitors can see how this landscape shaped movement and trade across the desert.
The best way to explore the range is via U.S. Route 70, which passes through the mountains and offers scenic views from the road. The area is dry and sunny, so bring plenty of water and prepare for hot weather.
Bear Canyon cuts through the northern edge of the range, creating a striking natural divide that makes the landscape appear distinctly split. This geological feature is visible from afar and serves as a notable landmark for navigation.
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