Introduction
The United States Congress designated the Cebolla Wilderness (
map) in 1987 and it now has a total of
61,600 acres.
All of this wilderness is located in
New Mexico and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Description
Part of El Malpais National Conservation Area, Cebolla Wilderness lies just across State Highway 117 from West Malpais Wilderness but offers easier traveling than the ominously raw volcanic terrain of the badlands. Cebolla shares its eastern border with the Acoma Indian Reservation, but you should avoid crossing the border without first checking with the reservation manager. Abandoned roads provide effortless hiking up Cebolla Canyon, Sand Canyon, and Armijo Canyon, all of which feature sandstone bluffs and sandy side washes beneath high mesas. Look for evidence of past habitation, from ancient petroglyphs to the ruins of Depression-era homesteads. La Ventana Natural Arch, eroded from sandstone laid down when dinosaurs ruled this territory, anchors the northern portion of what is now primarily forested rimrock. Carry plenty of water, as you won't find any here.
