Lincoln National Forest

Lincoln National Forest
Lincoln National Forest - view from Crest Trail
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Location	New Mexico, United States
Nearest city	Alamogordo, NM
Coordinates	32°50′02″N 105°41′49″W / 32.834°N 105.697°W / 32.834; -105.697
Area	1,103,897 acres (4,467.31 km2)[1]
Established	July 26, 1902[2]
Governing body	U.S. Forest Service
Website	Lincoln National Forest

Lincoln National Forest is a unit of the U.S. Forest Service located in southern New Mexico. The Lincoln National Forest covers an extensive 1.1 million acres in southeastern New Mexico.^[3] Established by Presidential Proclamation in 1902 as the Lincoln Forest Reserve, the 1,103,897 acres (4,467.31 km²) forest begins near the Texas border and contains lands in parts of Chaves, Eddy, Lincoln, and Otero counties. The Lincoln National Forest is home to three major mountain ranges: Sacramento, Guadalupe and Capitan.^[3] The three Ranger Districts within the forest contain all or part of a total of four mountain ranges, and include a variety of different environmental areas, from desert to heavily forested mountains and sub-alpine grasslands. Clean air, water, and soil are necessary elements that the National Forests contribute to the environment.^[4] Established to balance conservation, resource management, and recreation, the lands of the Lincoln National Forest include important local timber resources, protected wilderness areas, and popular recreation and winter sports areas. The forest headquarters is located in Alamogordo, N.M. with local offices in Carlsbad, Cloudcroft, and Ruidoso.