La Lena Wilderness Study Area

About La Lena Wilderness Study Area

The La Leсa WSA is characterized by deep arroyos, highly sculpted mesas, canyons, and sandstone and shale outcrops. This area is easily traveled by horseback. Nesting sites for golden eagles, prairie falcon, great horned owl, red-tailed hawk, and raven are found on sandstone cliffs. Vegetation includes grama grass, cactus and Knight's milevetch. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail passes through this WSA.

How to Get There

From Highway 550, approximately 18 miles north of San Ysidro, turn west on County Road 279. Continue about 17 miles; past the village of San Luis the road turns to dirt. As the road bends to the south, turn right on a side road and drive approximately Ѕ mile to where the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail crosses the road. There is no trailhead, and the trail is marked by cairns. Hike north into the WSA.

Plan Your Visit to La Lena Wilderness Study Area

Heading to La Lena 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)