Mount Riley Wilderness Area

About Mount Riley Wilderness Area

The Mount Riley Wilderness Area is located in southern New Mexico approximately 30 miles southwest of Las Cruces. The Wilderness Area is comprised of three volcanic cinder cones approximately 1,500 feet high. Vegetation consists of desert grasses and shrubs. There are no maintained trails to the summits; however, hikers are rewarded with 360 degree views from the top.

How to Get There

From I-10, about 8 miles south of Anthony, NM (at the TX state line), take exit #8 to TX 178/Artcraft Rd. After exiting, take the second right onto TX 178/Artcraft Rd and drive about 9 miles to NM 9/Columbus Rd (Note: TX-178 becomes NM-136 at the state line). Turn right and drive west about 24 miles on NM Hwy 9 to County Road 005. Turn right and drive north approximately 4.5 miles to County Road 007. Turn Right on County Road 007. This road forms the boundary of the WSA (which is on the left) for approximately 6 miles.

Plan Your Visit to Mount Riley Wilderness Area

Heading to Mount Riley Wilderness 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)