Wheeler Peak Wilderness

Wheeler Peak Wilderness is a protected mountain region in New Mexico with alpine lakes, glacial valleys, dense forests, and high-elevation tundra landscapes. The area covers over 19,000 acres and presents different elevation zones ranging from forested slopes to exposed summit areas.

The area received federal protection in 1964 through the Wilderness Act and underwent boundary expansion in 1980. Additional land transfers in 1996 reinforced its protected status.

The wilderness contains evidence of past Native American settlements and represents an important natural preservation site in the southwestern United States.

Visitors access the area through maintained trails from highways NM 150 or NM 578, with the Williams Lake Trail and Wheeler Peak Trail serving as main routes. Weather and elevation significantly affect conditions, so planning ahead is important.

The area contains Wheeler Peak at 13,161 feet, New Mexico's highest point, where bighorn sheep live year-round in the alpine tundra. These sheep are adapted to harsh conditions and can often be spotted in the upper elevation zones.