Unit 53 · Cuba / Rio Puerco
About this unit
Santa Fe National Forest and BLM country between Cuba and the Rio Puerco. Ponderosa pine on the Sierra Nacimiento with piñon-juniper mesa to the west.
- Sierra Nacimiento
- Santa Fe National Forest
Public lands inside this unit
8 found
Carson National Forest
ParkNat'l Recreation AreaHorsethief Mesa Trail
ParkNat'l Recreation AreaRed River Wild and Scenic River
ParkNat'l Recreation AreaRinconada Loop Trail
ParkNat'l Recreation AreaRio Grande del Norte National Monument
ParkNat'l Recreation AreaRio Grande Wild and Scenic River
ParkNat'l Recreation AreaTaos Field Office
ParkNat'l Recreation AreaWild Rivers Back Country Byway
ParkNat'l Recreation Area
Trails near Unit 53
12 found
Continental Divide Trail
Difficulty: Difficult3001.6 miTrailCDT - Colorado Section
Difficulty: Expert1337.2 miTrailEnchanted Circle
Difficulty: Expert84.1 miTrailGreenie Peak OHV Loop
Difficulty: Expert24.1 miTrailSouth Boundary
Difficulty: Expert20.6 miTrailCabresto Lake to Red River OHV Trail
Difficulty: Expert18.2 miTrailWheeler Peak via East Fork Red River Trail
Difficulty: Expert15.6 miTrailWheeler Peak via Bull of the Woods Trail
Difficulty: Expert14.5 miTrailOjitos Canyon Trail
Difficulty: Expert14.5 miTrailLatir Peak Loop Trail
Difficulty: Expert13.9 miTrailWheeler Peak Loop via Bull of the Woods Trail and Williams Lake Trail
Difficulty: Expert13.9 miTrailRed River OHV Trail
Difficulty: Expert12.6 miTrail
Campgrounds near Unit 53
12 found
Rio Grande Gorge Dispersed
Pricing varies — check with the operatorCampgroundWild Rivers Recreation Area
Pricing varies — check with the operatorCampgroundLa Sombra Campground
Pricing varies — check with the operatorCampgroundLas Petacas Campground
Pricing varies — check with the operatorCampgroundTaos Junction Campground
Pricing varies — check with the operatorCampgroundRio Grande del Norte National Monument
Pricing varies — check with the operatorCampgroundForest Road 5 - Dispersed campsite
Pricing varies — check with the operatorCampgroundRoad Runner RV Resort
Pricing varies — check with the operatorCampgroundRio Grande del Norte
Pricing varies — check with the operatorCampgroundSheep Crossing Campground
Pricing varies — check with the operatorCampground
Elephant Rock Campground
Pricing varies — check with the operatorCampgroundArroyo Seco Dispersed NF Camping
Pricing varies — check with the operatorCampground
On the books in New Mexico
Species inventory is state-level — which units actually hold or permit each species varies. Verify unit-specific rules with the state agency linked above.
Official agency resources
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
- Hunting regulations ↗
https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/hunting/licenses-and-permits/
- Draw / lottery ↗
https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/hunting/applications-and-draw-information/
- GMU map ↗
https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/hunting/maps/
- Harvest reporting ↗
https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/hunting/harvest-reporting-information/
- Hunter education ↗
https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/education/hunter-education/
- Buy a license ↗
https://onlinesales.wildlife.state.nm.us/
Authoritative source
Outdoors does not publish hunting regulations directly. For current season dates, bag limits, legal weapons, draw deadlines, and license costs in unit 53, go straight to the issuing agency.
Read the New Mexico agency pageBoundary verified by Outdoors against the agency source on 10/25/2026.