USFWS · New Mexico

Salt Creek Wilderness

Migratory waterfowl may consider this a sufficient winter home, but birders will see it as paradise. From October through February, the seasonal wetlands in and surrounding Salt Creek Wilderness play host...

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Salt Creek Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
StateNew Mexico
Size9,621 acres (Wilderness Connect)
Designated1970, by Congress
Center point33.5964, -104.4150
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 29)

Boundary map

1 outline

Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees

The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Salt Creek Wilderness30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 0.32 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowFebruary: 0.36 inches of precipitation, 0.4 inches of snowMarch: 0.59 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowApril: 0.62 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 1.49 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 1.44 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 2.33 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.70 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.84 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.52 inches of precipitation, 0.4 inches of snowNovember: 0.51 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowDecember: 0.54 inches of precipitation, 1.0 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 38.9°F averageFebruary: 43.7°F averageMarch: 51.4°F averageApril: 59.5°F averageMay: 68.3°F averageJune: 77.5°F averageJuly: 80.0°F averageAugust: 78.3°F averageSeptember: 70.8°F averageOctober: 59.3°F averageNovember: 47.0°F averageDecember: 38.7°F average0 in0.5 in1 in1.5 in2 in2.5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Bitter Lakes Wl Refuge, 9 miles from the center point at 3,664 feet, station USC00290992 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 13 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 4 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Register listings within 15 miles · 12 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Salt Creek Wilderness?

9,621 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Salt Creek Wilderness?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Salt Creek Wilderness in?

New Mexico.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Salt Creek Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1970.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Can I camp at Salt Creek Wilderness?

No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How do I get to Salt Creek Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 33.596, -104.415. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How dark is the night sky at Salt Creek Wilderness?

NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 29 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.

Source: NASA Black Marble

Are there historic places near Salt Creek Wilderness?

12 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Henge, The and Milne--Bush Ranch.

Source: Register Atlas

Sources

  • Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
  • Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
  • Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
  • Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
  • Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.