Cibola National Forest and Grasslands, New Mexico Camping & Hiking

Cibola National Forest and Grasslands, New Mexico Camping & Hiking

Cibola National Forest and Grasslands Image Gallery

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Activities

BIKING, CAMPING, HIKING, HORSEBACK RIDING, OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE, PICNICKING, WINTER SPORTS, RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, WILDLIFE VIEWING

Camping Reservations

Reserve your campsite at these camping areas:

New Mexico Campgrounds

COAL MINE

CAPULIN SPRING PICNIC SITE

PINE FLAT PICNIC SITES – A and B

NINE MILE PICNIC SITE

BALSAM GLADE PICNIC SITE

CIENEGA PICNIC SITE

DOC LONG PICNIC SITES – A and B

LAS HUERTAS PICNIC SITE

Cedro Peak Camping Sites – Robin and Jay

Oak Yucca and Locust Group Picnic Sites

Hiking Trails

Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails:

New Mexico Hiking Trails

Red Canyon/spruce Spring Trailhead

Sandia Mountains

Pine Shadow Trailhead

Croton Creek Trailhead

Gooseberry Springs Trailhead

Comanche Trailhead

Manzano Crest North Trailhead

Trigo Trailhead

Trail Canyon Trailhead

La Cueva Trailhead-La Cueva Trail 83 & Picnic Site

Encino Trailhead

Fourth of July Trailhead

Kayser / Cottonwood Trailhead

Ox Canyon Trailhead

Pine Flat Picnic Site

Cottonwood Trailhead

New Canyon Trailhead

Water Canyon Trailhead

Monte Largo Trailhead

Cienega Equestrian Trailhead

Cerro Blanco Trailhead

Albuquerque Trailhead

Placitas Trailhead

Coyote TH, Coyote Trls 05620, 05619, 05851, FR 462

Strawberry Canyon Trailhead

Mesa Trailhead

Manzano Crest South Trailhead

ATV Bypass 05617

Related Link(s)

More New Mexico Recreation Areas

Cibola National Forest and Grasslands

Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands

Acreage: 1,625,542
Elevation: 2,700 feet -11,300 feet

The mountain ranges of the four forested districts of Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands include: the Datil, Gallinas, Magdalena, Bear, San Mateo, Zuni, Sandia and Manzano mountains, as well as the Manzano, Withington and Apache Kid wildernesses. These are all located in central New Mexico. The Cibola National Forest also includes 263,954 acres of national grasslands in northeastern New Mexico, western Oklahoma, and northwestern Texas.

CLIMATE: Climate within the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands varies with elevation – from the desert up through juniper, pine, and spruce-fir forests. Summer nights are cool, and very cold above 8,000′. During July and August there are frequent afternoon showers.

Sandia Crest elevation is 10,678 feet and is accessible by car, aerial tramway and trail. Capilla Peak™s elevation is 9,375 feet and is accessible by car. Mount Taylor peaks at an elevation of 11,301 feet and has a road within a mile of the top. The Cibola National Forest also offers several other scenic drives on its districts.

ACTIVITIES: Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands offers good deer hunting as well as some elk, antelope, and turkey hunting.  Fishing opportunities are available at Bluewater and McGaffey Lakes in the Zuni Mountains, Skipout, Spring Creek, and Dead Warrior Lakes in Oklahoma, and Lake Marvin and Lake McClellan in Texas. Nearby attractions also include the Sandia Peak Ski Area in the Sandia Mountains, the Very Large Array by the Magdalena Ranger District, prehistoric ruins, ice caves, lava flows, and Indian pueblos.

SEASONS OF RECREATIONAL USE: Most of the Cibola is open all year, although the severe high country winter prompts the closing of select developed recreation areas. Extra care should be taken when visiting in winter.

Before you go, make sure there are no fire restrictions.

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