Sierra Blanca (New Mexico)
| Sierra Blanca Peak | |
|---|---|
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 11,981 ft (3,652 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 5,533 ft (1,686 m) |
| Listing | |
| Coordinates | 33°22′28″N 105°48′31″W / 33.374323178°N 105.808719667°WCoordinates: 33°22′28″N 105°48′31″W / 33.374323178°N 105.808719667°W |
| Geography | |
 Sierra Blanca Peak
Location in south-central New Mexico
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| Location | Lincoln / Otero counties, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Topo map | USGS Sierra Blanca Peak |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | 26 to 38 million years |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano complex |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike south from ski area |
The Sierra Blanca (Spanish: White Mountains) is a range of volcanic mountains in Lincoln and Otero counties in the south-central part of the U.S. state of New Mexico. The range is about 40 miles (64 km) from north to south and 20 miles (32 km) wide.
Sierra Blanca Peak (White Peak) is the highest mountain in the range at 11,981 feet (3,652 m). It is southern New Mexico's highest peak, as well as the most prominent (5,533 feet) and the 40th highest in the entire state. The peak is located on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation, approximately 10 miles (16 km) west-northwest of Ruidoso and 30 miles (48 km) north-northeast of Alamogordo.
The majority of the Sierra Blanca range is within the Lincoln National Forest, and part of this is protected as the White Mountain Wilderness Area. Much of the southern half of the range, including the summit of Sierra Blanca Peak, is within the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation. The peak is sacred to the Mescalero Apache, and requires a permit from the tribe for access. To the south, across the valley of the Rio Tularosa, lie the Sacramento Mountains. To the north is Carrizozo Mountain, and to the northeast lie the Capitan Mountains. On the west side, the range rises high above the Tularosa Basin.
The range serves as the headwaters for the Rio Ruidoso, Rio Tularosa, and Rio Bonito, as well as numerous arroyos draining into the Tularosa Basin, including Nogal Arroyo at the north end of the range.
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Wikipedia