Cebolla Wilderness Area

The 61,600-acre Cebolla Wilderness is made up of sandstone mesas, canyons, and grassy valleys. Juniper and piñon dominate, and ponderosa pine is found on north-facing slopes. Vertical escarpments provide excellent nesting habitat for golden eagles, prairie falcons, red-tail hawks, and great horned owls. The Cebolla Wilderness is rich in prehistoric archaeological sites, petroglyphs, and historic homesteads. One notable archaeological site is the Dittert Site. Sometime between A.D. 1000 and 1300, the Dittert Site was built and inhabited by the ancestors of modern Pueblo Indian people. The Cebolla Wilderness also contains La Ventana Natural Arch, a dramatic arch sculpted through wind and water erosion in the sandstone cliffs. The Wilderness is located within the El Malpais National Conservation Area. The establishment of a Wilderness Area (Wilderness) identifies an area Congress has added to the National Wilderness Preservation System.  The BLM manages these areas to ensure their unique wilderness characteristics, primitive recreation opportunities, solitude, and mostly undeveloped areas are protected. Learn more about Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas.