2017 Map of Lake Lucero

About this map

Lake Lucero serves as the focal point of this arid landscape, situated within a complex overlap of conservation and military jurisdictions. The area is dominated by the White Sands Missile Range, which encompasses both the White Sands National Monument and the San Andres National Wildlife Refuge. The terrain transitions from the salt crusts and playa of the lake bed to the steep elevations of the San Andres Mountains to the west. Access is limited to specialized routes like the Lake Lucero Trail and military roads including Wsmr S RT 287. Deep topographical incisions such as Ash Canyon and Little San Nicholas Canyon drain the mountain slopes toward the basin floor, illustrating the stark hydrology of the Tularosa Basin during the late 2010s.