Area Description

In the western part of the complex, Petaca Pinta consists of a nearly 1,000-foot escarpment with juniper-dotted foothills and canyons that drop down to surrounding grasslands, badlands and lava-capped mesas. Petaca Pinta itself is an isolated finger-like extension from Blue Water Mesa that curves to the north before dropping sharply to the basalt lava flows in the northern portion of the unit. The escarpment of Petaca Pinta exposes almost the entire 180 million years of the Mesozoic Era. Notable rock units include the Petrified Forest Member of the Chinle Formation (though no major fossil discoveries have yet been made in the unit), and the Wingate Sandstone, a famous cliff former throughout the Colorado Plateau. Basalt lava flows that cap the Mesozoic rocks are about 3 million years old and likely came out of Cerro de Oro, which lies to the southeast. The Volcano Hill unit is to the northeast, with its namesake rising 500-feet from its surrounding basalt lava flow. Volcano Hill and its lava flow cap an escarpment that drops almost 1,000 feet to grassy plains below. Volcano Hill erupted around 3 million years ago, spewing out basaltic lava flows that capped the 240-million-year-old Chinle formation. These Triassic rocks form the scenic red cliffs found in the western portion of the unit.

The Sierra Lucero unit rounds out the complex in the eastern part of the area. This range is a long north-south trending escarpment that encompasses the 900-foot rise of Cerro Verde, the juniper-covered, hilly terrain of Mesa Cimarron, and Mesa Gallina. Mesa Gallina is the high point in the complex at 7,855 feet elevation. The reddish hue of much of the western portion of the Sierra Lucero unit comes from the 240-million-year-old Chinle formation, which rests on Permian limestones and sandstones. These Permian formations are exposed in the eastern portion of the unit. The sharply rising spire of Cerro Alesna and another unnamed spire to the north are volcanic intrusions formed around 15 million years ago. Finally, around three-million years ago Cerro Verde and other vents released the basalt lava flows that cap much of the region.

This area is part of the Rio Puerco watershed. South of Petaca Pinta, Blue Water Canyon and many small drainages form part of the headwaters of Arroyo Colorado. To the north and east, Big Sandy Wash, Cañada Ancha and many other drainages in the wesetern part of the complex flow into the Arroyo Colorado, which joins the Rio San Jose, which then curves south to meet the Rio Puerco. Drainages on the west side of Sierra Lucero form the headwaters of Arroyo Lucero while those on the east feed Arroyo Comanche and Arroyo Salado, all of which eventually join the Rio Puerco.

Ecological Values

A variety of habitats are found in the Petaca Pinta complex. In this southern region of the Rio Puerco Valley, Sierra Lucero and the higher cap of Mesa Gallina are the most prominent rises, which allows them to collect a little extra moisture to support dense pinyon-juniper woodlands. Pinyon-juniper woodlands are also found to the west of the complex on Blue Water Mesa. These woodlands provide important shelter and forage for wildlife in a desert climate. Grasslands are also found throughout the area. Grass species here include black, sideoats, and blue grama; bottlebrush squirreltail; little bluestem; New Mexico feathergrass; Indian ricegrass, and western wheatgrass. Blue Water Canyon and other canyons and arroyos in the area provide natural corridors for animals that utilize both pinyon-juniper woodlands in the higher elevations and the open grasslands to which they lead. Blue Water Canyon also contains natural seeps that are inaccessible to livestock. These riparian areas contain cottonwoods, willow, and cattails. Scattered springs and numerous natural depressions that hold water are also found in the lava flow around Volcano Hill. These are important water sources for wildlife in the area.

The varied habitats provide a home for many animals. Pronghorn, prairie dog, and badgers are found on the grasslands in the area. The lonely volcanic spires and cliffs in the area attract raptors including golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, and great horned owls. Other birds present are scaled quail, bushtits, pinyon jays, juncos, and larks. Mammals that utilizee the area include coyotes, mule deer, and mountain lions. The Pronoun Cave Complex in the Sierra Lucero unit consists of What Cave, Which Cave, That Cave, and others. They are valued for their fossils, especially of species that no longer range in New Mexico. They are also important habitat for several species of bats, including big-eared bats, which use the caves for hibernation.

Scenic and Recreational Qualities

The highly diverse scenery of the complex includes the colorful cliffs of the Blue Water Mesa escarpment and the dramatic pinnacle of Petaca Pinta; spectacular volcanic spires; pink, yellow, buff, and red colored badlands; columnar basalt resting atop red sandstone cliffs; and red-hued mesas thickly covered in pinyon-juniper forests. Higher elevations in the area offer views of the vast Rio Puerco Valley, Mount Taylor, Sierra Ladrones, and the Sandia, Manzano, and Magdalena Mountains. Limited access, low visitation, and very rugged topography make experiencing the quiet and solitude of wilderness very worthwhile in the Petaca Pinta complex. Rough canyons and broken topography in the area offer rugged, cross-country hikes and backpacking experiences. Additional recreational opportunities in the area include including geologic sightseeing and landscape photography.

Special Management Areas

One BLM (Wilderness Study Area) WSA is located in this complex: Petaca Pinta. The Volcano Hill unit includes a portion of the Pronoun Cave Complex Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), designated to protect caves containing fossil resources that give a glimpse of animals no longer found in New Mexico, but were here in the recent past. The caves are also critical for bat hibernation.

Cultural Values

Archaeological resources of the Petaca Pinta complex are mainly prehistoric lithic scatters and structural sites with some historic stone ruins from the early 1900s. There are petroglyphs in the Volcano Hill unit. The people of the Acoma and Laguna Pueblos have traditionally used, and continue to use, the lands in and around the Petaca Pinta area for religious activities such as purification ceremonies and plant collection.

Access Information

Access to the Petaca Pinta is off of Hwy 6. Take Exit 126 from I-40 and head south on Hwy 6. As it starts to bend to the southeast, take the road to the right that goes over the railroad tracks and after another mile, turn left. Follow this maintained dirt road south-southwest for about 15 - 20 miles. When you cross on to public land, you are between the Volcano Hill and Sierra Lucero units.

About 8 miles from the railroad track is a fence. BIA 541 heads west along the fence for about 5 miles before crossing onto BLM land. You will need a permit from the Laguna Indian Reservation to take this route - just stop in at the village. Once on BLM land, this road goes around the west side of the Volcano Hill unit and heads to the Petaca Pinta unit.

The USGS 7.5 minute maps that cover this complex are East Mesa, Broom Mountain, Marmon Ranch, Cerro del Oro, Cerro Verde, Chicken Mountain, White Ridge, Mesa Gallina, South Garcia SE, and Mesa Mojinas.