Southwestern New Mexico: Frontiers Old and New

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Just outside of Las Cruces, stop in for a glass of awardwinning wine, or pick up a fine vintage to take home at Rio Grande Winery, 5321 N Highway 28. The winery produces 15 to 17 wine varietals, including Mission wine (a variety that dates back about 500 years), pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc and malbec, on its 23 acres. The sweet oasis in the desert has for decades provided panoramic views of the Mesilla Valley. Live music often is scheduled on weekends. The winery is closed Mondays, and operating hours vary on other days. Visit https://www.riograndewinery.com/ or call (575) 201-3744 for more information.

Once a railroad hub, Las Cruces is home to New Mexico State University and serves as a center for agriculture, science, and technology research. A short jaunt to the southwest part of Las Cruces and you’ll find yourself in the quaint village of Old Mesilla with its distinctive central plaza and shopping venues.

Head west toward New Mexico’s bootheel and enjoy the rustic ambiance of Deming, Lordsburg, and bordertown Columbus. Check local listings in these areas for reenactments of life on the frontier.

Civil war history, mining, prospectors, and the Wild West are all part of the texture of Silver City, located just three miles east of the Continental Divide. No trip to this area is complete without a visit to Catwalk National Recreation Area, five miles off the highway from the village of Glenwood. Suspended dramatically along a beautiful canyon and over a cool creek that borders the Gila Wilderness, the Catwalk is a half-mile-long bridge that is universally accessible for all visitors.

In the Mimbres Valley, volcanic ash shaped by wind 35 million years ago created the geologic formations that comprise City of Rocks State Park, halfway between Silver City and Deming.

Fort Bayard offers a glimpse at Civil War Life. The spectacular Gila Cliff Dwellings, Gila National Monument, and Gila Wilderness are an indescribable must-see. Travelers will enhance their experience by making time to drive the Trail of Mountain Spirits, a 93-mile National Scenic Byway that winds around the southwest corner of New Mexico and past ancient cliff dwellings.