Apache Kid Wilderness
Apache Kid Wilderness is a 44,626-acre (18,060 ha) Wilderness area located within the Magdalena Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest in the state of New Mexico. Straddling a southern portion of the San Mateo Mountains of southwestern Socorro County, the area is characterized by rugged, narrow, and steep canyons bisecting high mountain peaks exceeding 10,000 feet (3,000 m). The highest peak is West Blue Mountain which reaches an elevation of 3,151 metres (10,338 ft).
| Apache Kid Wilderness | |
|---|---|
IUCN category Ib (wilderness area) | |
A view from the Apache Kid Wilderness. Courtesy of the US Forest Service. | |
| Location | Socorro County, New Mexico, United States |
| Nearest city | Truth or Consequences, New Mexico |
| Coordinates | 33°39′04″N 107°25′30″W |
| Area | 44,626 acres (18,060 ha) |
| Established | 1980 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The Apache Kid Wilderness lies just south of the Withington Wilderness, which also straddles the San Mateo Mountains. The Apache Kid is also surrounded by 84,527 total acres of Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA) with the San Jose IRA (16,957 acres) to the south and the Apache Kid Contiguous IRA (67,570 acres) to the north, east, and west. Some 68 miles (109 km) of trails provide access to the Apache Kid Wilderness. The Wilderness was designated by Congress in 1980 and provides outstanding hiking, backpacking, star-gazing, hunting, and horseback-riding opportunities.