Chamisa Wilderness Study Area

About Chamisa Wilderness Study Area

The northern portion of this WSA is arid, while the southern portion consists of a higher plateau dominated by piсon and ponderosa pines. The diversity of vegetation and landforms provide scenic appeal. Large numbers of elk use the area, as well as coyotes, mule deer, and Merriam's turkey.

How to Get There

From Highway 550, approximately 18 miles north of San Ysidro, turn west on County Road 279. At 8.5 miles, County Road 279 turns to dirt as it passes through the village of San Luis. At approximately 22.5 miles from Highway 550, turn southwest on BLM road 1103, which begins to climb up onto the mesa. A gate is located just below the top of the mesa. This gate is locked during wet times of year. Park at the gate or just beyond the gate at the top of the mesa and hike southeast into the WSA.

Plan Your Visit to Chamisa Wilderness Study Area

Heading to Chamisa 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)