More than 90,000 people greet the day in and around Las Cruces, New Mexico by gazing out their windows at the colorful quartz monzonite spires of the Organ Mountains — some of the most spectacular scenery in the state. Just 5-10 miles outside the city, the Organs encompass very rough terrain, including steep-sided crevices, red rhyolite cliffs, canyons of blocky rock outcrops, and bands of mountain mahogany nestled in the deep clefts. One of the steepest mountain ranges in the west, the Organs top out at an elevation of some 9,000 feet at the Organ Needles — massive spires of nearly barren rock. These granite "needles" have been compared to the pipes of a pipe organ and are the source of the name of this special wild place.
The several perennial springs found here are critical for the area's wildlife, which includes mountain lions, golden eagles, Montezuma quail and mule deer. Peregrine falcon, an Organ Mountain race of the Colorado chipmonk, and four species of endemic mollusks — all special status species — make their home in these mountains. Nearly 900 vascular plant species are found in the Organs, making it one of the most botanically diverse mountain ranges in the state. Sneed's pincushion cactus, night-blooming cereus, and nodding cliff daisy thrive here, as do the Organ Mountains evening primrose and smooth figwort — two plants endemic to the area. Pinon-juniper woodland, ponderosa pine, and mixed mountain shrubs are plentiful. During the summer, bright green grasses carpet the ridges.
The beauty and natural resources of the Organs are also treasured by residents and visitors who use the area for hiking, horseback riding, backpacking, wildlife watching and taking photos. Not surprisingly, rock climbing opportunities here are recognized nationwide.
Organ Mountains
Today, parts of the Organ Mountain range are managed as wilderness study areas, with some limited protection. The area is also designated as a Natural Recreation Area, and includes two developed recreation sites where an access fee is charged. In order to better protect this natural gem, citizens proposed that the Organs be designated as a National Conservation Area, along with a surrounding wilderness designation of more than 300,000 acres. Recognizing the role these wild mountains play in the quality of life of residents, more than 200 Las Cruces area businesses, the Hispano Chamber of Commerce, the Las Cruces Homebuilders, and five city and county commissions voted to protect the Organs a true symbol of what makes the state the "Land of Enchantment." It is hoped that legislation to keep the Organs as they are today — free of development — will be introduced and enacted in the 111th Congress. For more information, visit www.nmwild.org.
