“Our responsibility to the Nation is to be more than careful stewards of the land, we must be constant catalysts for positive change.”

Gifford Pinchot, First Chief of the US Forest Service, 1905-1910
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Red River is surrounded by the Kit Carson Forest, a part of the national forest system under the care of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Named after the famous American frontiersman, Christopher ”Kit” Carson who spent much of his adult life in Taos, the forest is 1.5 million acres. Elevations rise from 6,000 feet to 13,161 feet at Wheeler Peak, the highest peak in New Mexico.

There are 86,193 acres of wilderness in the Carson. Wilderness is land set aside as part of wild America, where man can be a visitor. The natural environment has not been disturbed. Travel is restricted to foot or horseback. No mechanized equipment is allowed. Wilderness areas include: Wheeler Peak, Latir Peak, Pecos, Cruces Basin, Columbine-Hondo (proposed wilderness area).

The forest belongs to you. Take care of it.


Don’t Play With Fire

There are always regulations on the use of fire in the forest. Fireworks are always banned. Sometimes there are additional restrictions. The year 2006 has been a dry year in New Mexico. Be aware of posted fire restrictions and help keep our forest safe so future generations can enjoy it, too.