Aldo Leopold Wilderness is a protected expanse in New Mexico’s Gila National Forest, established in 1980 and named for conservation pioneer Aldo Leopold. Once part of the Gila Wilderness and later the Black Range Primitive Area, it reflects the long development of American wilderness protection. Stretching along the rugged Black Range, it includes high peaks, deep stream-cut valleys, diverse plant zones, and wildlife typical of the Southwest. The Continental Divide and part of the Continental Divide Trail cross it, and the Mimbres River begins there. The area also preserves traces of frontier conflict, including Victorio’s 1879 ambush near Las Animas Creek.