Pecos Wilderness

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The Pecos Wilderness is a protected wilderness area located within the Santa Fe National Forest and Carson National Forest. The Pecos Wilderness is in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of north central New Mexico, easily accessible from the city of Santa Fe, the state capital. Covering an area of 223,667 acres (905.15 km²), it is the second largest wilderness in the state after the Gila Wilderness. An area just shy of 200,000 acres (810 km²) was given wilderness protection by Congress in 1964. An additional 55,000 acres (220 km²) were added in 1980.

The Pecos Wilderness boasts among one of the highest concentrations of peaks exceeding 12,000 feet (3,700 m) in elevation in the state of New Mexico, including Santa Fe Baldy, el. 12,622 feet (3,847 m), the highest point in Santa Fe county, and South Truchas Peak, el. 13,102 feet, 7th highest peak in the state.