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The Lincoln National Forest Region is located in southern New Mexico. The destination is named after the Lincoln National Forest, which sits in the center of the territory. The Lincoln National Forest draws in crowds looking for recreation, including camping, hiking, and skiing.[7] Las Cruces, Roswell, Hatch, and Carlsbad are a few of the region's cities. Las Cruces is the second-largest city in New Mexico. Las Cruces is known for being the city where New Mexico State University is located.[6] Roswell is the fifth-largest city in New Mexico and is home to the New Mexico Military Institute.[5] The Mescalero Reservation sits in the center of the destination and is where the Mescalero Apache Tribe resides. The reservation covers 463,000 acres and was established in 1883.[3] The White Sands Missile Range is a part of the region and was established in 1945 and serves as a military testing area for the United States Army.[4] The Lincoln National Forest Region has a dry climate year-round, with warm summers and cold and short winters.[8]
The destination is named after the Lincoln National Forest. The Lincoln National Forest is made up of three units, the Smokey Bear Ranger District, the Sacramento Ranger District, and the Guadalupe Ranger District. The forest offers year-round recreation, from camping in the summer to skiing in the winter. There are many developed trails for hiking and biking. Visitors can find a wide range of outdoor adventures while visiting the Lincoln National Forest.[7] Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a popular attraction within the region. There are more than 100 caves at the Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Guests can choose between a self-guided audio tour or a ranger-led tour through the caves.[1]
The Old Mesilla Village is a city near Las Cruces and is a historical site to see while in the territory. The town offers colorful architecture, art, and history.[14] Sitting Bull Falls is an attraction near Carlsbad and is a 150-foot waterfall over a limestone cliff. The water creates a pool that visitors can swim and play in.[15] The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument was established in 2014 and has trails for hiking, mountain biking, and sightseeing. Hikes range from 3 miles to 29 miles.[15]
The best time to visit the destination is from September to November. These months are the most pleasant months when it comes to weather in the region. The temperature ranges from 65 degrees to 85 degrees, with cooler evenings. Fall nights allow for the best stargazing, relative to other times of the year. There are many festivals that visitors can experience during the fall months.[2] The area is known for producing many crops, including pecans, chili peppers, pumpkins, corn, peanuts, melons, lettuce, cabbage, and onions. The territory is the major supplier of onions to Mexico. New Mexico State University plays a significant role in producing the many crops in the area because it specializes in agriculture.[16]
The Lincoln National Forest Region is located in southern New Mexico and is named after the national forest in the middle of the territory. Las Cruces and Roswell are the two largest cities within the area. Las Cruces is the second-largest city in New Mexico.[6]
The Lincoln National Forest Region is a dry and warm place. The hottest period in the destination lasts from May to September, with an average temperature of 89 degrees or above. November through February are the coldest months of the year and usually stay between 50 and 60 degrees.[2] The best time to visit the area for pleasant weather is from May to late June and from the end of August to the middle of October.[8] The territory can provide a unique experience for travelers, offering outdoor adventures, rich culture, national parks, farmer's markets, and monuments.[11] There is not a shortage of farmlands within the area. Some of the foods produced within New Mexico include pecans, chili peppers, Pima cotton, corn, chile, cabbage, lettuce, watermelons, and hay. New Mexico has the seventh-largest amount of dairy products within the United States. Agriculture creates 4,500 jobs annually in southern New Mexico.[12] Some of the vegetation within the Smokey Bear Ranger District includes semi-desert plants, pinyon pine, and fir.[13]
The Lincoln National Forest Region is named after the forest that was first inhabited by the Niit'a-héõde band. The Niit'a-héõde band was a part of the Mescalero Apache, a tribe of Southern Athabaskan Native Americans. The forest was established in 1902 when the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. The forest covers thousands of acres around Captain and Lincoln, which are two towns in New Mexico. The forest was named after the town of Lincoln. Throughout the years, the Lincoln National Forest has been combined with other forests. Eventually, the Alamo National Forest and the Lincoln Forest Preserve were combined into what is now the Lincoln National Forest.[9] The Smokey Bear District adds to some of the destination's history, initially being part of the Lincoln National Forest. A bear cub that was later named Smokey Bear was rescued in 1950 from the Capitan Gap fire. Today, Smokey the Bear is a way to spread awareness and prevention to wildfires. After Smokey Bear was rescued, he was taken to the National Zoo in Washington D.C. He died in 1976 and was buried near his home in Captain.[7]
La Cruces is the largest city within the territory and has a population of 103,432. The area's demographics are 34.9% Non-Hispanic White, 2.6% African American, 1.5% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 2.9% two or more races, 58.6% Hispanic or Latino. The average household size is 2.49 people per house.[6] Agriculture, commerce, education, and defense/aerospace play the most prominent role in La Cruces' economy.[10]
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