Mt. Withington Wilderness
Cibola National Forest

The 19,000-acre Mt. Withington Wilderness is little known. This hidden area on the eastern slopes of the northern San Mateo Mountains sees very few people in a normal year. Elevations range from 6,800' to 10,100' at the summit of Withington Mountain. These are steep mountains with deep, cliff-sided canyons. In the shade of the canyon bottoms you'll find stands of pine, spruce and fir, then just down the hill a bit where the canyons open out you'll come into pinon and juniper country. As you continue to the east and get into the lower areas you'll come into desert scrub with stands of cactus and ocotillo.

Winters in the Mt. Withington Wilderness are short but cold, and can bring lots of snow. Summers tend to be hot and dry, although the July-August monsoon season often brings rains that flash flood the lower canyons. This is an area where you'll want to bring your own water because there's nothing that can be counted on back in the hills.