| Pecos Wilderness (Forest Service) | |
| Protected area | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | New Mexico |
| City | Santa Fe |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | 223,667 acres (90,515 ha) |
| Founded | 1980 |
| IUCN category | Ib - Wilderness Area |
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The Pecos Wilderness is a protected wilderness area 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 Santa Fe, the state capital. Covering an area of 223,667 acres (90,515 ha), it is the second largest wilderness in the state after the Gila Wilderness. An area just shy of 200,000 acres (81,000 ha) was given wilderness protection by Congress in 1964. Congress protected an additional 55,000 acres (22,000 ha) in 1980.
The Pecos Wilderness boasts 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, 12,622 feet (3,847 m), the highest point in Santa Fe County, and South Truchas Peak, 13,102 feet (3,993 m), the second highest peak in the state.
The Pecos Wilderness lies within the Camino Real Ranger District of the Carson National Forest, and the Pecos Ranger District and Espanola Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest.