East Potrillo Mountains Wilderness Area · NM

East Potrillo Mountains Wilderness Area is a designated wilderness area in New Mexico, managed by the Bureau of Land Management.About East Potrillo Mountains Wilderness AreaChihuahuan Desert grassland and yucca, in association with a mosaic of other desert shrubs such as creosote, acacia, and mesquite, make up the majority of the plant cover in the area. Occasional juniper trees are also found on mountain slopes and in larger drainages. The limestone substrate provides habitat for a wide diversity of cacti, and sandy areas likely contain populations of the State-endangered sand prickley pear, Opuntia arenaria, a special status species. Summer monsoon rains bring extensive stands of wildflowers in this area including white and yellow desert zinnias, desert marigolds, blackfoot daisies, globe mallow, pepperweed, desert sunflowers, Chihuahuan flax, and summer poppy. Unusually large specimens of barrel cactus also live in this area. Raptors are common, especiallyThings to do at East Potrillo Mountains Wilderness Area