Sierra Club working to designate the Columbine Hondo WSA as Wilderness

Our goal is to have Congress designate the Columbine Hondo Wilderness Study Area(WSA) as a full fledged Wilderness. This WSA, created by Congress in 1980, lies between the Taos Ski Basin and the highway between Questa & Red River.

Working with others, we hope to protect the special values of this large, high mountain acreage, containing 2 important Watersheds (the Rio Hondo & Red River), and popular with hunters, anglers, photographers, hikers, cross-country skiers and wildlife watchers, making it a key economic component in northern New Mexico. Wilderness status would fill in a key gap of already protected areas in this high elevation landscape (the Latir Peaks, Wheeler Peak & the Valle Vidal), providing important wildlife habitat and water for local citizens and their crops.

Two of its better known summits, Gold Hill & Lobo Peak are in our book Day Hikes in the Santa Fe Area.

To learn more, contact our local volunteer: Eric Patterson, eepatt@gmail.com, 575-776-2833.