Sierra de las Canas Wilderness Study Area
In the Sierra de las Canas Wilderness Study Area
The Sierra de las Cañas Wilderness Study Area is located in a very scenic area of west-central New Mexico. This rugged desert mountain range features colorful sheer rock escarpments, mountain ridges, mesa tops, deep narrow canyons and lots of badlands. This area contains the Loma de las Cañas Ridgecrest with multi-colored sandstone, limestone, siltstone and shale.
The vegetation is primarily typical Chihuahuan desert vegetation: yuccas, cholla, prickly pear cacti, and ocotillo. Spring wildflowers are a special attraction.
The Quebradas Backcountry Byway runs along the western boundary of most of the Sierra de las Canas Wilderness Study Area. For several miles, the byway separates Sierra de las Canas from the smaller Presilla Wilderness Study Area to the west.
Sierra de las Canas Wilderness Study Area map
Photos and map are courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management