11,823 acre primitive area protects a rugged and austere landscape north of Albuquerque, and is open to primitive camping, hiking, and horseback riding
7am to 6pm
Summer Park Hours
May 31 to September 6
7am to 9pm
Fall to Spring Hours
September 8 to May 27
9am to 5pm
Accepts America The Beautiful Pass.
Overview
Ojito Wilderness is a designated Wilderness Area in New Mexico, administered by the U. S. Bureau of Land Management. Established in 2005, the 11,823 acre primitive area protects a rugged and austere landscape north of Albuquerque, and is open to primitive camping, hiking, and horseback riding.
Despite its imposing and desolate appearance, the lands within Ojito Wilderness show evidence of habitation going back millions of years. Many types of fossils are found in the Jurassic-era Morrison Formation sandstone of the area, as well as large sections of petrified trees and one of the largest dinosaur skeletons ever discovered, the Seismosaurus. Evidence of human activity in the area include ruins and artifacts from prehistoric Ancient Puebloans, Spanish, and Navajo, testifying to the ability of these peoples to survive in the hot, waterless environment. Physically, the area is a dry, austere environment of multi-colored sandstone, terraces, box canyons and arroyos. Small amounts of piñon and juniper can be found in the Wilderness, as well as a unique stand of ponderosa pine, the lowest elevation in New Mexico where these trees can be found.
Location and access
The Ojito Wilderness is located in Sandoval County, north of Bernalillo and can be accessed via U. S. 550 and County Road 906, an unimproved road also known as the Cabezon Road. There are two marked trailheads in the area, the Seismosaurus Trailhead, and the Hoodoo Trailhead, both of which can be accessed by County Road 906. Hiking, Backpacking, horseback riding and primitive camping are allowed in the Wilderness without a permit.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ojito Wilderness", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
-1000.jpg)
.jpg){kind=link}
