Big Hatchet Peak is the highest summit in the Big Hatchet Mountains, a small rugged range in New Mexico’s southwestern Bootheel about fifty miles southwest of Deming. Rising about four thousand feet above the surrounding Playas and Hachita valleys, it is especially notable for its steep north and west faces and striking profile. The range extends about twelve miles and reaches close to the Mexican border, mostly on Bureau of Land Management land. Geologically part of the Basin and Range Province, it is formed of Paleozoic limestone and Cretaceous shale and sandstone. Its elevation supports wildlife distinct from the desert lowlands, while its remoteness and lack of developed access keep visitation light.