Lincoln National Forest

The Lincoln National Forest covers over 1 million acres and spreads across parts of four counties and three separate ranger districts. It offers everything from desert landscapes to snow skiing. The Lincoln National Forest is the birthplace of “Smokey the Bear,” the national symbol most of us grew up with creating awareness of forest fire […]

Eddy County Rd 409 Carlsbad NM 88220 USA

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Lincoln National Forest

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National Parks

Lincoln National Forest

_{Eddy County Rd 409, Carlsbad, NM}

The Lincoln National Forest covers over 1 million acres and spreads across parts of four counties and three separate ranger districts. It offers everything from desert landscapes to snow skiing. The Lincoln National Forest is the birthplace of “Smokey the Bear,” the national symbol most of us grew up with creating awareness of forest fire prevention. Established in 1902, elevations range from 4,000 to 11,500 feet. Five differing life zones are featured in the Forest, from Chihuahuan Desert to subalpine forest. More than two dozen recreation areas offer bicycling, camping and cabins, hiking, horse riding, hunting, picnicking, scenic drives, off-highway vehicle (OHV) riding, and winter sports.

Recommended Lodging

La Quinta Inn and Suites, _{4020 National Parks Hwy, Carlsbad, NM}
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Dedicated to and guided by our core values, our team is passionate about making La Quinta your favorite choice.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott, _{901 S. Canal St., Carlsbad, NM}
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Trinity Hotel, _{201 S. Canal, Carlsbad, NM}
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The Trinity building was built in 1892 as the First National Bank, where it once housed the first newspaper and later became the historic headquarters of the Carlsbad Irrigation District

The Guadalupe Ranger District occupies over 135,000 acres (545 km2) in Eddy County. Access to the Forest is through numerous roads from Highway 285. Sitting Bull Falls is a popular recreation area in Lincoln National Forest.

Spring is the windy season and these winds dry the forest to the point of extreme fire danger. Fire season usually starts in March or April and continues through mid-July. If the fire danger becomes too high, open fires may be prohibited, requiring the use of contained fuel stoves for cooking. The rainy season begins in July and continues through September. The first snows fall in late October or early November.