The Fort Stanton – Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area (NCA) was established in 2009 to protect, conserve, and enhance the unique and nationally important historic, cultural, scientific, archaeological, natural, and educational subterranean cave resources of the Fort Stanton – Snowy River Cave system. The NCA was once known as the Fort Stanton Military Reservation. In 1855, the U.S. Army established Fort Stanton as an Infantry and Cavalry post in the east-central New Mexico Territory to protect settlers in the region. Within the NCA is Fort Stanton Cave. Fort Stanton Cave has over 56 miles of passage mapped, it is the second longest cave in New Mexico, the seventh longest cave in the U.S., the 32nd longest in the world, and the largest cave the BLM manages. Snowy River is a significant passage within Fort Stanton Cave, and is the longest cave formation in the world. Ongoing exploration continues, and previously unknown passages have been identified and mapped, without reaching the end.

Explore Nearby

• Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway — Scenic Byway in New Mexico
• Billy the Kid Trail — Scenic Byway in New Mexico
• Lincoln National Forest — National Forest in New Mexico
• Oliver Lee Memorial State Park — State Park in New Mexico
• Bottomless Lakes State Park — State Park in New Mexico