Sacramento Mountains

Sacramento Mountains
The western escarpment of the Sacramento Mountains, looking south from Dog Canyon.
Highest point
Peak	Two unnamed areas (Benson Ridge and Corral Canyon)
Elevation	9,695 ft (2,955 m)
Coordinates	32°48′27″N 105°47′59″W / 32.80750°N 105.79972°W / 32.80750; -105.79972Coordinates: 32°48′27″N 105°47′59″W / 32.80750°N 105.79972°W / 32.80750; -105.79972
Dimensions
Length	85 mi (137 km) N-S
Width	42 mi (68 km) W-E
Geography
Location of the Sacramento Mountains within New Mexico
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
Borders on	Guadalupe Mountains and Capitan Mountains
Geology
Type of rock	Limestone

The Sacramento Mountains are a mountain range in the south-central part of the U.S. state of New Mexico, lying just east of Alamogordo in Otero County (small portions of the range lie in Lincoln County and Chaves County). From north to south, the Sacramento Mountains extend for 85 miles (137 km), and from east to west they encompass 42 miles (68 km).

The Sacramentos can be divided into two sections: a main, northern section, encompassing most of the land area and all of the terrain above 7,500 feet (2,290 m), and a smaller southeastern section, contiguous with the Guadalupe Mountains. Neighboring ranges and landforms include the Tularosa Basin, immediately to the west of the main section of the range; Sierra Blanca and the Capitan Mountains to the northwest and northeast; the Border Hills and the western edge of the broad Pecos River valley to the east; the Guadalupe Mountains to the southeast; and Otero Mesa, which lies south of the main section and southwest of the southeastern section. The Rio Tularosa and the Rio Ruidoso (and hence U.S. Route 70) separate the Sacramentos from Sierra Blanca and the Capitan Mountains.

The western edge of the main section of the Sacramento Mountains forms a series of dramatic escarpments leading up to a high ridge, which includes the highest named point in the range, Cathey Peak, 9,645 feet (2,940 m). From this ridge the mountains slope gently down to the east, merging gradually with the plains to the west of Artesia. There are actually two unnamed highpoints of the range, both approx 9,695 ft. One is near Sunspot above Corral Canyon and FR 64. The second highpoint is on the crest of Benson Ridge.