Sacramento Mountains
Sacramento Mountains are a high-elevation forested upland area on southern New Mexico's continental divide, near Cloudcroft and Alamogordo, offering alpine trails, cold-water streams, and vistas across the Chihuahuan Desert.
Learn More
Geography
| Address | Sacramento Mountains, NM 88318, USANM-82 |
|---|---|
| Continent | North America |
| Region | Southwestern United States |
| Subregion | Chihuahuan Desert |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Otero County |
| District | Sacramento River Basin |
| City | Cloudcroft |
| Neighborhood | Skyline |
| Postal Code | 88318 |
| Timezone | AmericaChicago |
| Latitude | 32.956 |
| Longitude | -105.852 |
| Maps |
8:15 PM LOCAL TIMEThe Sacramento Mountains span roughly 1,500 square miles of high desert and montane forest on southern New Mexico's continentals divide. Centered near the towns of Cloudcroft and Alamogordo, this range rises from 8,000-foot ponderosa pine and aspen communities in the south to over 10,000 feet at the msntop of White Mountain, offering long-distance hiking, winter recreation, and views into the desert basin below. Access is through NM-82 and forest roads that lead to trailheads and cabins; the range is bisected by the Sacramento River and numerous cold-water streams that support Oncorhynchus mykiss (Rio Grande cutthroat) and other native fish. Visitors come for alpine start on early-season trail hikes, snowsports in winter, and wildlife viewing — look for Neotamias minimus (least chipmunk), Aquila chrysaetos (golden eagle), and migratory songbirds. The range is also a gateway to nearby national parks and forest lands, with overnight camping and backcountry opportunities concentrated at higher elevations and in designated wilderness corridors.
All content was written by our AI and may contain a few mistakes. We may earn commissions on some links. Last updated: Sun Dec 14, 2025, 2:55 AM