Silver City Travel Forum

We will be traveling to Tucson, AZ the last week of October. We have visited that area several times. And although we enjoy it very much, we're interested in exploring SW New Mexico. We enjoy mostly outdoor activities, history, and sight seeing (nature). I have enjoyed the Silver City members' pages and appreciate their tips and information. But I'd like other suggestions of places to see/stay for a day or two that are not too far from Tucson. I look forward to your replies!

How about the Gila Cliff Dwellings, just up the road from Silver City? I say "up the road" but I think it's about an hour, hour and a half, depending on conditions. Check out the NPS website at http://www.nps.gov/gicl/

Also there's Rockhound State Park in the Florida Mtns near Deming, where a friend of mine found some lovely naturally-occurring peridot. You can actually collect the rocks--"Leave no trace" doesn't apply there. http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/nmparks/PAGES/parks/rockh/rockh.htm

The Gila Cliff Dwellings, while only 44 miles from Silver City, will take two hours to get to. The road, though comfortably wide, well-maintained, etc. has too many ups and downs (and lotsa curves) to take at anything approaching highway speeds-- and who'd want to? It's too beautiful to whiz past!

Fred,

The Gila Cliff Dwellings and Rock Hound State Park are excellent suggestions but let me mention a few places that I also like (at the risk of including some places you have already seen). In Arizona, I would certainly do Ramsey Canyon, the hummingbird sanctuary near Sierra Vista. I would also do Bisbee and Tombstone, although I much prefer the former. Be sure to stop and eat at the Copper Queen Hotel in Bisbee and don't miss the used book store.

In New Mexico, it seems like I read that the Gray Ranch was bought and may have tours now (I have not been there myself though). You did not say if you backpack, but if you do, try the lower Gila River above the town of Gila. You can drive to the edge of the wilderness area and backpack up Turkey Creek to the cave and hot springs. The fishing has declined some in that area since more people go there now. Another option in the Spring is to float down from the cliff dwelling area.

While in Deming, try the excellent winery that is there. Between Deming and Silver City, go to the City of Rocks (especially if you have kids) and maybe the Faywood Hot Springs, which have now been commercialized. See the huge open pit copper mine in Bayard/Hurley. I don't know if they still do the smelter tours. The outer loop through the Gila Forest has many beautiful places and you may see elk. It starts near Lake Roberts. You can finish with the almost ghost town of Mogollon and do the catwalk at Glenwood (if it has not washed away again).

If you want to do a really out-of-the-way hike, try the 12 mile roundtrip to Rabb Canyon in the Black Range and the moonstone mine there. Another nice hike (and good fishing) is down the creek below Lake Roberts to the Gila River. I recommend getting a Gila National Forest map that shows these trails. I could go on but this is probably way more than you wanted. Have fun!

Ray,

I appreciate your detailed response. This is exactly the kind of information I had hoped for! We were recently in Nanaimo, BC and stayed at the Long Lake B&B. Harold Robinson, our host provided us with a hand drawn map of his favorite things to do within a couple hour's drive. It was awesome. We saw things a typical 'tourist' would never find. Local insights are priceless.

We always enjoy our visits to the Southwest and are really looking forward to this trip!

THANK YOU!
Fred

Mitchell,

We are excited about seeing some new things on this trip. I appreciate your local insight.

Thanks,
Fred