Big Hatchet Mountains Wilderness Study Area

About Big Hatchet Mountains Wilderness Study Area

The Big Hatchet Mountains WSA is located in southwestern New Mexico and is the highest mountain in the vicinity. This is an isolated block fault uplifted mountain with tall stratified cliffs. Desert grasses and shrubs in the lowlands give way to piñon, juniper, mountain mahogany, and oak trees in the higher elevations. These mountains are very rugged and include massive limestone cliffs. These rugged mountains are home to desert bighorn sheep and significant bat colonies. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail passes through this WSA.

How to Get There

Drive south from Hachita, NM, on Highway 81. Between mile 35 and 34, turn left onto County Road C11 (Hatchet Road). In about a ½ mile the road veers right. At approximately 2.1 miles, turn right on Commodore Road and follow this road approximately 3.3 miles to a T intersection. Turn right and drive approximately 1¾ miles to where the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail crosses the road. The Trail is marked by cairns; there is no trail tread. Hike southeast into the WSA.

Plan Your Visit to Big Hatchet Mountains Wilderness Study Area

Heading to Big Hatchet Mountains Wilderness Study Area? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• Park map (PDF)
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)