Ojito Wilderness Area

Ojito Wilderness Area, managed by the BLM Rio Puerco Field Office, encompasses 11,823 acres of rugged high desert in Sandoval County, New Mexico, southwest of San Ysidro. The landscape features steep mesas, box canyons, hoodoos, and multicolored sandstone formations shaped by erosion. Two marked hiking trails depart from the same parking area: the Seismosaurus Trail and Hoodoo Trail, each approximately 2 miles round trip. The area is designated wilderness, so motorized and mechanical travel are prohibited. Visitors must bring all water; no potable water, toilets, or cell service are available. Ancient cultural sites and vertebrate fossils are present and protected by law—collection or disturbance without a research permit is prohibited.