Cibola National Forest

The Cibola National Forest encompasses a total area of about 1.6 million acres of 13 disjointed areas across several states. These states include New Mexico, Oklahoma, and the western half of Texas. This forested area is divided into four distinct ranger regions that include Mountainair, Magdalena, the Sandia, and Mt. Taylor. 

The protected land under the Cibola National Forest also includes four national grasslands stretching from northeastern New Mexico to the east towards the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma. The protected area under the Cibola National Forest also contains several mountains in west-central New Mexico including Datil, Magdalena, San Mateo, Manzano, Bear, Gallina, Sandia, Mt. Taylor, and Zuni Mountains. 

The forest and national grassland are managed by the Region 3 of the U.S. Forest Service whose offices are in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Besides the features mentioned above, the Cibola National Forest is also famous for several distinct features including a tram ride, (the 2.7-mile Sandia Peak Tram) that is said to be the world's longest aerial tram offering picturesque views of about 11,000 miles of New Mexico. Closer to the ground, there is a lot of flora and fauna that will delight any nature enthusiast. 

There are over 200 rare animal and plant species in the area with about 30 species listed by the New Mexico government or by the Federal as threatened or endangered. The forest is also home to more mammal and animal species than anywhere else in the world. Besides these unique features of the forest there are several recreational activities to enjoy including hiking, camping, deer and antelope hunting, mountain biking, OHV riding, hang gliding, downhill skiing (at Sandia Peak), and limited fishing. 

Enjoying the outdoors with your dog is also a great way to enjoy the forest resources, but you will need to make sure that you know the forest rules before venturing to have an adventure. Some of the basic rules include ensuring that you know the parts of the forest that you can and cannot go into when you are with your dog. Also, you should keep your dog secured or on a leash at all times, and you should respect the forest resources and other visitors by ensuring that your pooch is well behaved.