Fra Cristobal Mountain, the highest summit in the Fra Cristobal Range in Sierra County, New Mexico, stands at the range’s northern end and overlooks the Jornada del Muerto to the east. Its name is associated with early Spanish colonial travel and is said to reflect the profile of Fray Cristóbal de Salazar, who accompanied Juan de Oñate’s first colonizing expedition in 1598. More than an isolated peak, it served as an important landmark where travelers on the Jornada del Muerto turned west through the Lava Gate toward the Rio Grande. Its importance lies in its enduring role in the geography and travel history of central New Mexico.