Mudgetts Wilderness Study Area

About Mudgetts Wilderness Study Area

The Mudgetts WSA is located in southern New Mexico about 30 miles southwest of the city of Carlsbad. The WSA is contiguous with Carlsbad Wilderness (managed by the National Park Service). The area is characterized by steeply rolling limestone hills and canyons covered in desert shrubs and cactus with scattered sotol, agave, and juniper. The region is known for its diverse vegetation, scenic vistas and caves.

How to Get There

From US Hwy 62/180, 10 miles southwest of Carlsbad, NM, turn west on County Road 408/ Dark Canyon Rd. Drive just over 12ј miles on CR 408 and turn south on an unmarked/unnamed road. Drive generally in a southerly direction on this road, passing numerous well pads, for nearly 5Ѕ miles. Pass the last well pad and park on the south end of it; the WSA is on the west side of the road. The road continues for another mile or so, but is a rough four wheel drive route. This road forms the eastern border of the WSA.

Plan Your Visit to Mudgetts Wilderness Study Area

Heading to Mudgetts 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)