Better In Person

Visit our majestic sky islands of New Mexico and the sprawling grasslands within northern New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. 

Destinations

The Enchantment of Forest, Wilderness and Grasslands 

The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands encompasses 1.9 million acres. The 4 “sky island” ranger districts: Sandia, Mountainair, Magdalena, and Mt Taylor cover more than 1.6 million acres in New Mexico with elevations range up to 11,301 ft. The Cibola also has four wilderness areas: Sandia Mountain, Manzano Mountain, Withington and Apache Kid and administers four National Grasslands: Black Kettle, McClellan Creek, Kiowa and Rita Blanca covering 263,261 acres in northeastern New Mexico, western Oklahoma and northern Texas. ​ 

Fire Safety Information

  • Stage II Fire Restrictions

    Help Prevent Wildfires

    Based on high fire danger and severe fire weather conditions, the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands (NF & NGs) has implemented Stage 2 Fire Restrictions across all districts. 

    Restriction Orders and Maps Be Prepared

Prepare for Your Visit

  • Recreation Sites

    people on horses in the forest

    Four season opportunities for visitors to the forests, wilderness and grasslands

    Explore

  • Find Your Way

    bikers on trail

    Cibola area maps are available in all formats and for all devices. Plan ahead by mapping your adventure.

    Maps

  • Passes & Permits

    Buy a pass or permit

    Check out what fees are required and what passes are available. Know before heading out.

    More Details

Discover More about the Cibola

  • Caring for the Land

    cliff on cibola

    ​Learn more about how the Cibola is managed and cared for, including forest planning, travel management, grazing management and annual operating instructions (AOIs), assessments, and special projects.

    Learn More

Recent News

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Features

Cibola Offering Recreation Passes Online

Planning to visit the Cibola? Now you can purchase your day use pass on line! Save the hassle of finding cash for the fee envelope and instead purchase a digital pass through our partner, Recreation.gov. This pass can be used for all sites that charge a day use fee on Sandia Ranger District, and at Lake McClellan on Black Kettle Ranger District.  Purchase your pass ahead of time or directly at the site when you visit; your license plate will be used to verify your purchase.

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Heading outdoors to get a break from being in the house?

Tips for treading lightly at a distance

An adaptation of the TREAD Principles by Tread Lightly!

We've adapted the T.R.E.A.D Principles for social distancing outdoors to align with the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help slow the spread of the disease and maintain physical and emotional health. Please help us keep the outdoors and enthusiasts healthy by following these easy guidelines.

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Alerts & Warnings

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