Whitewater Baldy

{{Short description|Mountain in New Mexico, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Whitewater Baldy

| photo =

| photo_caption =

| elevation_ft = 10,899

| elevation_ref = {{ngvd29}}{{cite peakbagger |pid=4238 |name=Whitewater Baldy, New Mexico |access-date=2014-02-15}}

| prominence_ft = 3535

| prominence_ref =

| location = Catron County, New Mexico, U.S.

| range = Mogollon Mountains

| map = New Mexico

| map_caption = Location in New Mexico

| map_size = 200

| coordinates = {{coord|33.323675|N|108.6417248|W|type:mountain_region:US-NM_scale:100000_source:GNIS|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| range_coordinates =

| coordinates_ref = {{cite gnis |id=912345 |name=Whitewater Baldy |access-date=2014-02-15}}

| topo = USGS Grouse Mountain

| volcanic_field = Mogollon-Datil volcanic field

| first_ascent =

| easiest_route = trail hike

}}

Whitewater Baldy is the highest point of the Mogollon Mountains and the 3rd highest mountain in Southern New Mexico, after Sierra Blanca Peak and Lincoln County's Lookout Mountain. It is located in Catron County in the Gila Wilderness, part of the Gila National Forest. It lies about {{convert|15|mi|0}} east of the town of Glenwood (on U.S. Route 180).

Like all of the surrounding mountains, Whitewater Baldy is part of the Mogollon-Datil volcanic field, and consists of volcanic materials formed between forty and twenty-five million years ago.Butterfield, Mike, and Greene, Peter, Mike Butterfield's Guide to the Mountains of New Mexico, New Mexico Magazine Press, 2006, {{ISBN|978-0-937206-88-1}} It is drained on the west side by Whitewater Creek, and on the east by Iron Creek.

Despite its name, Whitewater Baldy is forested up to its summit. It can be accessed by trail from the west along the Crest Trail (Forest Trail 182).{{cite summitpost |id=163674 |title=South Baldy}} It can also be accessed from the east side of the Gila Wilderness.

The area was severely impacted by the Whitewater-Baldy Complex Fire in 2012.