Mesa Prieta is a mesa in Sandoval County, New Mexico, created by a basaltic lava flow during the Pliocene and revealing older sedimentary layers such as the Cretaceous Dakota Sandstone, Mancos Shale, and Gallup Sandstone. The Rio Puerco runs along its western side, while the Ojito Wilderness lies to the east and Cabezon Peak rises to the north. These surrounding features place Mesa Prieta within the stark mix of volcanic landforms and exposed sedimentary geology that defines northwestern New Mexico.