Fort Stanton – Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area

Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area spans 25,080 acres in the eastern foothills of Sierra Blanca at 6,300 feet elevation.

The U.S. Cavalry established this area as Fort Stanton Military Reservation in 1855, where soldiers from the 9th and 10th Cavalry served.

The Rio Bonito Petroglyph Trail displays rock etchings created by the Jornada Mogollon people who inhabited this region centuries ago.

Rob Jaggers Campground provides five RV electric hookups, shelters, barbecue grills, restrooms, drinking water, and horseback staging facilities.

Fort Stanton Cave contains the Snowy River passage, featuring a bright white calcite stream bed extending over 21 mapped miles underground.

Location: Ruidoso

Operator: BLM

GPS coordinates: 33.48845,-105.47518

Latest update: March 3, 2025 00:28