Salinas Peak is the highest point in theSan Andres Mountains of south-centralNew Mexico, in the United States. It lies near the northern end of the range, about 50 miles (80 km) northwest ofAlamogordo and 50 miles (80 km) southeast ofSocorro. To the east lies theTularosa Basin, while to the west is theJornada del Muerto.

Salinas Peak
Salinas Peak
Highest point
Elevation	8,967 ft (2,733 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence	3,605 ft (1,099 m)[2]
Coordinates	33°17′54″N106°31′53″W / 33.298336453°N 106.531285206°W /33.298336453; -106.531285206[1]
Geography
Salinas Peak Location in New Mexico
Location	Sierra County, New Mexico, U.S.
Parent range	San Andres Mountains
Topo map	USGS Salinas Peak
Climbing
Easiest route	road (no public access)

The peak is located within theWhite Sands Missile Range, and hence is closed to the public. However a road on the northwest side leads to the top, where there are radio towers and a heliport. About 20 miles (32 km) to the north lies theTrinity Site, where the firstatomic bomb test occurred in 1945.Bighorn sheep,mule deer, andmountain lion are present in the area, which has retained much of itswilderness character outside of the few installations of the Missile Range.^[3]

Like many of the San Andres Mountains, Salinas Peak is rugged, rising sharply 4,900 feet (1,500 m) out of the surrounding basins. This makes it one of New Mexico's largest peaks in terms of local relief.^[3] It is a northwest-tiltedfault-block, with a steep southeasternescarpment. The peak juts out to the east by a few miles from the main ridge trend, leading to deeply incisedcanyons on the north and south sides of the peak. Only a small section of the northwestern side is moderately angled.

• North Oscura Peak
• Starfire Optical Range