Veranito Wilderness Study Area

About Veranito Wilderness Study Area

The Veranito WSA is located in central New Mexico approximately five miles east of Socorro. The area is characterized by a series of undulating, parallel ridges cut by numerous arroyos. It is interspersed with low-lying hills and a low elevation east-facing escarpment. The vegetation is typical of the upper Chihuahuan Desert.

How to Get There

To reach the southern border of the WSA, take the Escondida exit (#152) from I-25 (approximately three miles north of Socorro and 23 miles south of Bernardo & Hwy 60 E). Drive east and then immediately north to follow NM 408 for just over one mile to Pueblito Road. Turn right on Pueblito Road and drive east for less than one mile to the community of Pueblito; passing Escondida Lake and crossing the Rio Grande. At Pueblito, turn left at the T intersection onto Johnson Hill County Rd. Drive north and then east for about one mile where you will be very close to the southern border of the WSA. Johnson Hill Rd continues for over seven miles, northeast and then north, forming the eastern border of the WSA.

Plan Your Visit to Veranito Wilderness Study Area

Heading to Veranito 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)