Gila Lower Box Wilderness Study Area

The Gila Lower Box Wilderness Study Area is located in southwestern New Mexico about 20 miles northwest of Lordsburg in Hidalgo County, managed by the BLM Las Cruces Field Office. The Gila River has carved a 5-mile-long canyon up to 600 feet deep, creating the "Lower Box," a riparian oasis heavily vegetated with ash, cottonwood, Arizona sycamore, and willow. The area supports 265 bird species, 67 mammal species, 12 amphibian species, and 54 reptile species, making it one of New Mexico's premier bird-watching destinations. The WSA contains petroglyphs and rock shelters reflecting the area's cultural heritage.