Maderas del Carmen

Maderas del Carmen is a large protected mountainous area in the state of Coahuila in northern Mexico, covering the Sierra del Carmen range along the Mexico-United States border. The landscape is characterized by steep canyons, cliffs and sky islands that rise above surrounding Chihuahuan Desert plains.

The area is valued for its intact desert-mountain ecosystems, large canyons and escarpments. Visitors and researchers come for scenic drives, wildlife viewing and to study the geological and ecological contrasts between the highland ridges and arid lowlands.

Protection of the area has been driven in part by efforts to link habitat across the Rio Grande and support cross-border conservation with Big Bend on the U.S. side. Management focuses on preserving native vegetation, large mammal populations and remote canyon landscapes.

The reserve lies along the northern edge of Coahuila, adjacent to the Rio Grande and opposite the Big Bend region of Texas. Access is by rural roads from nearby Mexican towns rather than national highways.

• Transboundary corridor: Forms part of a transboundary conservation corridor linking to Big Bend National Park in Texas across the Rio Grande.
• Wildlife habitat: Protects rugged desert mountains and deep canyons that are important habitat for desert-adapted species such as bighorn sheep and other large mammals.

What to See #

• Sierra del Carmen massif: The Sierra del Carmen massif forms the core of the protected area, with steep canyons and rugged limestone and volcanic ridges that descend toward the Rio Grande.