Alamo Hueco Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Alamo Hueco Mountains are a 15 mile (24 km) long, mountain range
in southeast Hidalgo County
, New Mexico
, adjacent the border of Chihuahua state, Mexico
. The range lies near the southern end of the mountains bordering the extensive north-south Playas Valley
; the Little Hatchet and Big Hatchet Mountains
are adjacent north. The much smaller Dog Mountains are adjacent south.
While the Continental Divide of the Americas traverses the western perimeter mountains of the Playas Valley, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail traverses the entire mountain ranges on the east side of the Playas Valley; the Scenic Trail continues south into the Chihuahuan Desert
region of northwest Chihuahua.
The highest peak in the range is Pierce Peak (New Mexico), 6159 feet (1,877 m), near the range's center-northeast; the peak is located at 31.4484°N 108.3350°W. Hat Top Mountain at 5168 feet (1,575 m) is located on the extreme southeast of the range, and separated from the main northwest-southeast ridgeline.
on its water divide
. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail comes through the Big Hatchet's in two trails, at the center and one in the north; also subtrails lead off southeasterly. The main traverse of the Scenic Trail exits from the southwest quarter of the range, to meet the northwest end of the Alamo Hueco Mountains.
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Alamo Hueco Mountains
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
in southeast Hidalgo County
Hidalgo County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.3% White*0.6% Black*0.8% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.8% Two or more races*11.0% Other races*56.6% Hispanic or Latino...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, adjacent the border of Chihuahua state, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The range lies near the southern end of the mountains bordering the extensive north-south Playas Valley
Playas Valley
The Playas Valley is a lengthy and narrow 60-mi long, valley located in Hidalgo County, New Mexico in the Bootheel Region; the extreme south of the valley lies in Chihuahua. Playas, NM is located in the northeast...
; the Little Hatchet and Big Hatchet Mountains
Big Hatchet Mountains
The Big Hatchet Mountains are an 18 mi long, mountain range in southeast Hidalgo County, New Mexico, adjacent the northern border of Chihuahua state, Mexico....
are adjacent north. The much smaller Dog Mountains are adjacent south.
While the Continental Divide of the Americas traverses the western perimeter mountains of the Playas Valley, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail traverses the entire mountain ranges on the east side of the Playas Valley; the Scenic Trail continues south into the Chihuahuan Desert
Chihuahuan Desert
The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert, and an ecoregion designation, that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border in the central and northern portions of the Mexican Plateau, bordered on the west by the extensive Sierra Madre Occidental range, and overlaying northern portions of the east range, the Sierra...
region of northwest Chihuahua.
Description
The range is 15 mi long and only about 8 mi wide. It trends northwest by southeast and abuts the Dog Mountains to the south on the Mexico-United States border. The Alamo Hueco Mountains lie in the southeast corner of New Mexico's 'Bootheel', so the Chihuahua border also lies to the east of the mountain range.The highest peak in the range is Pierce Peak (New Mexico), 6159 feet (1,877 m), near the range's center-northeast; the peak is located at 31.4484°N 108.3350°W. Hat Top Mountain at 5168 feet (1,575 m) is located on the extreme southeast of the range, and separated from the main northwest-southeast ridgeline.
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
The Continental Divide lies north of the Big Hatchet Mountains and traverses the northern Playas ValleyPlayas Valley
The Playas Valley is a lengthy and narrow 60-mi long, valley located in Hidalgo County, New Mexico in the Bootheel Region; the extreme south of the valley lies in Chihuahua. Playas, NM is located in the northeast...
on its water divide
Water divide
A drainage divide, water divide, divide or watershed is the line separating neighbouring drainage basins...
. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail comes through the Big Hatchet's in two trails, at the center and one in the north; also subtrails lead off southeasterly. The main traverse of the Scenic Trail exits from the southwest quarter of the range, to meet the northwest end of the Alamo Hueco Mountains.
External links
Range Highpoint–Big Hatchet Peak- Pierce Peak, Trails Near Pierce Peak, (coordinates)
- Pierce Peak, (New Mexico Ranges, UTM table), elevation: 8356 ft
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Alamo Hueco Mountains