Lincoln National Forest


Lincoln National Forest

Parks Directory of the United States / National ForestsAddress:1101 New York Ave
Alamogordo, NM 88310

Phone:505-434-7200
Fax:505-434-7218
Web: www.fs.fed.us/r3/lincoln
Size: 1,103,441 acres.
Location:South central New Mexico. Accessible by US 60, 70, and 380; NM 83, 24, 37, and 48. Nearby cities/towns include Ruidoso, Alamogordo, Artesia, Capitan, Carlsbad, Cloudcroft, and Roswell.
Facilities:14 campgrounds, 8 group camps, dispersed camping, picnic sites, trails (400 miles), 2 ski areas, scenic viewpoints, scenic drives.
Activities:Camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, ORV riding, birdwatching, inner tubing, horseback riding, spelunking, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowmobiling.
Special Features:Birthplace of "Smokey Bear," the symbol of wildfire prevention. In 1950, a black bear cub was found clinging to a tree during a wildfire in the northern part of the forest. The cub was nicknamed "Hot Foot Teddy" by firefighters, and, after being nursed back to health, he was flown to Washington, D.C., to reside in the National Zoo as "Smokey Bear." Unique attractions include Sitting Bull Falls, a 180-foot waterfall located in a bowl canyon; Sunspot Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak; and the Apache Point Lunar Observatory. Nearby is Carlsbad Caverns National Park (see entry in national parks section).

See other parks in New Mexico.