The Wheeler Peak Wilderness includes almost 20,000 acres. Lying along the top of the Sangre De Cristo mountain range, The designated wilderness area is characterized by high rugged terrain. Elevations range from a low of 7,650 feet to a high of 13,161 feet at Wheeler Peak, the highest point in the State of New Mexico.

Carson National Forest is in northern New Mexico. It covers an area of 1.5 million acres and has a diverse landscape that ranges from 6,000 feet to 13,161 feet at Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico. The forest is home to many wildlife species, including the endangered Mexican Spotted Owl and the New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse. The forest offers many recreational opportunities, such as skiing, hiking, biking, camping, fishing, and bird watchng. The forest also has cultural and historical significance, as it contains prehistoric ruins, ice caves, lava flows, and ancestral lands of several Native American tribes.

The Carson National Forest website has a description and map of a hike to the Wheeler Peak Summit.