Top wilderness areas
Wilderness AreaBisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness
Wilderness AreaAden Lava Flow Wilderness
Wilderness AreaAh-shi-sle-pah Wilderness
Wilderness AreaDome Wilderness
Wilderness AreaGila Wilderness
Wilderness AreaLatir Peak Wilderness
Wilderness AreaCebolla Wilderness
Wilderness AreaOjito Wilderness
Wilderness AreaSabinoso Wilderness
Wilderness AreaMount Riley Wilderness
Wilderness AreaWheeler Peak Wilderness
Wilderness AreaWhite Mountain Wilderness
Wilderness Areas by county
All wilderness areas (26)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness | San Juan County | — | West Hammond | 2 |
| Aden Lava Flow Wilderness | Doña Ana County | — | San Miguel | 3 |
| Ah-shi-sle-pah Wilderness | San Juan County | — | Crownpoint | 1 |
| Dome WildernessBandelier | Sandoval County | — | Los Alamos | 3 |
| Gila WildernessGila Cliff Dwellings | Grant County | — | Arenas Valley | 1 |
| Latir Peak Wilderness | Taos County | — | Questa | 1 |
| Cebolla Wilderness | Cibola County | — | Skyline-Ganipa | 2 |
| Ojito Wilderness | Sandoval County | — | Jemez Pueblo | 3 |
| Sabinoso Wilderness | San Miguel County | — | Las Vegas | 1 |
| Mount Riley Wilderness | Doña Ana County | — | La Union | 3 |
| Wheeler Peak Wilderness | Taos County | — | Arroyo Seco | 2 |
| White Mountain Wilderness | Lincoln County | — | Ruidoso | 2 |
| Pecos Wilderness | San Miguel County | — | Chimayo | 2 |
| Sandia Mountain Wilderness | Bernalillo County | — | Sandia Heights | 5 |
| San Pedro Parks Wilderness | Sandoval County | — | Santa Teresa | 2 |
| Apache Kid Wilderness | Socorro County | — | Truth or Consequences | 1 |
| Chama River Canyon Wilderness | Rio Arriba County | — | Santa Teresa | 2 |
| Bosque del Apache Wilderness | Socorro County | — | Socorro | 2 |
| Withington Wilderness | Socorro County | — | Socorro | 1 |
| Manzano Wilderness | Torrance County | — | Meadow Lake | 3 |
| Aldo Leopold Wilderness | Sierra County | — | Santa Clara | 1 |
| Salt Creek Wilderness | Chaves County | — | Roswell | 2 |
| Capitan Mountains Wilderness | Lincoln County | — | Capitan | 1 |
| Broad Canyon Wilderness | Doña Ana County | — | Radium Springs | 2 |
| Cinder Cone Wilderness | Doña Ana County | — | Columbus | 2 |
| Blue Range Wilderness | Catron County | — | Clifton | 1 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph wilderness areas
Wilderness areas reward those who camp: being on location at sunrise and in the dark is the main advantage over day visitors.
- Motorized and mechanized equipment, including drones, is prohibited in designated wilderness.
- Group size limits and permits may apply; check with the managing agency.
- Practice Leave No Trace — camp on durable surfaces away from lakes and streams.
- Pack weight matters: a single zoom and a light tripod cover most situations.
- Night skies are often among the darkest in the country.
Season: Most high wilderness is snow-free from July to September; lower deserts are best in spring and autumn.