Photo credit: USDA Forest Service

Welcome to the Lincoln National Forest! The 1.1 million acre Lincoln National Forest consists of three ranger districts: Sacramento, Smokey Bear, and Guadalupe with elevation ranging from 4,000 to 11,500 feet. There are three major mountain ranges within the Forest covering parts of four different counties in southeastern New Mexico. Five different life zones, ranging from Chihuahuan desert to sub-alpine forest, establish diverse vegetation types across the Lincoln National Forest. Vegetation types are comprised of rare cacti in the lower elevations to Englemann spruce in the higher. Temperatures vary with elevation. At higher elevations, 7,000 feet and up, summer nights are a chilly 40ºF and days can warm up to the low 80's. Winter temperatures can drop to -15ºF at night and rise to 40º-50º F during the day. At the lowest elevations, 4,000 to 6,000 feet, temperatures are generally 10ºF higher throughout the year. Spring is the windy season and these high winds dry the forest to the point of extreme fire danger. Fire season usually starts in March or April and continues through mid-July. If the fire danger becomes too high, open fires may be prohibited, requiring the use of contained fuel stoves for cooking. The rainy season begins in July and continues through September. The first snows fall in late October or early November.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/lincoln