VISIT Galleries & Museums TRAVEL
the Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway
EXPLORE
the Gila Forest & Wilderness
DESTINATIONS FOR: Mountain & Road Biking and Motorcycling
Hiking, Bird Watching,
GRANT COUNTY AREA TOUR MAP
Georgia Bearup
Cissy McAndrew
Pat Bearup
Qualifying Broker/Owner 575-388-8556 GeorgiaBearup17@msn.com www.MimbresRealty.com
EcoBroker ® & GREEN Realtor ® 575-538-1337 CissyMcAndrew@gmail.com www.SilverCityTour.com
Qualified Broker, REALTOR® 575-534-5030 Pat.Bearup@hotmail.com www.MimbresRealty.com
Lucy Tully
Rodger Koest
Associate Broker, REALTOR® 575-654-5546 LucyTully.Realtor@gmail.com www.MimbresRealty.com
Associate Broker, REALTOR®, Property Manager
Property Management
575-313-3208 Rodger@RodgerKoest.com www.MoveToSilverCity.com
575-313-3208 SilverCityRentals.com
No One Knows The Country Like We Do! ® Open Weekends!
Monday-Friday 9 to 5 • Saturday-Sunday 10 to 4
Office in Historic Downtown Silver City • 414 N. Bullard St., Silver City, NM 88061
575-538-3789 2 – SCENIC TOURS
•
800-827-9198 • www.MimbresRealty.com
CONTENTS WELCOME, WILLKOMMEN, ¡BIENVENIDOS! SCENIC TOURS is devoted to the Silver City area and its multi-cultural communities with Four Gentle Seasons and war m hospitality. You will see wonders of the area, ancient cultures, and climate zones ranging from 4,000 to 10,000 feet. Browse through these pages and be prepared to have your expectations exceeded! Scenic Tours
Activities
4 Historic Silver City Scenic Tour Silver City and its history beginning in the mining boom era will come to life.
11 26 28 30
10 Pinos Altos Scenic Tour Walk through the 1860s in this historic mining town. 12 Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Tour Follow the footsteps of the Mogollón people who walked the area in the early 1300s.
2 5 8 9 10 19 26
Rock Hounding Birding Hiking Cycling & Biking
Maps Grant County Area Tours Silver City Walking Tour Silver City Driving Tour Historic Silver City Tour Pinos Altos Mining Birding, Hiking, Biking
= Birding Site
18 Mining Scenic Tour Historic head frames and modern open pit operations. 20 Gila High Country Scenic Tour Bill Evans Lake, the Gila Riparian Preserve, Glenwood, Cooney’s Tomb and more. 23 City of Rocks and South of Silver City Scenic Tour Beautiful carved giants and a visit to museums and ghost towns to the south.
OUR COVER City of Rocks State Park is a unique product of Mother Nature with pathways meandering through massive boulders. Grant County and Southwest New Mexico provide a rich experience chock-full of intriguing geology, life zone variations, history, art, events, great shopping and memorable dining. See Tour 6, Site 6. Photo by Joe Burgess
Scenic Tours HISTORIC SILVER CITY
AREA
GATEWAY TO 3.3 MILLION ACRES OF SOLITUDE
Keith LeMay, Author
Research and writing except where credited
Terri Menges
President & Managing Director
Joseph Burgess
Vice President & Photo Journalist
right: The Gila River, where an ancient culture walked these river banks, grew crops—and disappeared.
Arlyn Cooley
Staff Accountant
LeAnne Knudsen Advertising Sales
Joseph Burgess
Photography except where noted
Terri Menges Debra Sutton
The Gila River - Tour 5, Site 9
Attractions
Designers
Photo by LeAnne Knudsen
Bill Allen, Jackie Blurton, Ralph Fisher, Jay Hemphill, Keith LeMay, LeAnne Knudsen, Museum of New Mexico, Barry Nielsen, Becky O’Connor, Debra Sutton Contributing Photographers
Jackie Blurton, Joseph Burgess, Kevin Cook, Becky O’Connor, Luis Pérez, Dorothy Watson, Betty Woods Contributing Writers
Scenic Tours is published by Zia Publishing Corp., P.O. Box 1248, 116 McKinney Rd. (deliveries only), Silver City, NM 88062 Phone: 575-3884444 x19 Fax: 575-388-4444 info@ziapublishing.com www.ziapublishing.com. ©Keith LeMay. Reproduction in whole or part without permission of the publisher prohibited. For permission to use any portion of this publication email: info@ziapublishing.com. All submissions of editorial or photography are only accepted without risk to the publisher for loss or damage. Every effort was made to ensure accuracy in the information provided. The publisher assumes no responsibility or liability for errors, changes or omissions.
www.silvercity.org www.silvercitytourism.org www.southwestnewmexico.org
4 Historic Silver City Established in 1870, its rich history flows through today’s arts and business districts - located at the gateway to the 3.3 million acre Gila National Forest.
12 Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway Mimbreño Indians farmed on the river banks, kept diaries on cliff walls and made exquisite pottery.
14 Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument As you walk through the dwellings of the ancient Mogollón Indians imagine what life was like 700 years ago.
17 Fort Bayard National Historic Site From Buffalo Soldiers to tuberculosis sanatorium and veteran and geriatric care—giving service since 1863.
SCENIC TOURS – 3
HISTORIC SILVER CITY SCENIC TOUR In 1870, a group of American prospectors discovered silver in the hills just above the ciénega (marshy area), and the r ush was on. In ten shor t months, the newly christened Silver City grew from a single cabin to over eighty buildings. Tour 1 HIGHLIGHTS
Billy the Kid Cabin Site. (Silver City Visitor
Center) Billy spent part of his childhood here in a cabin similar to this. Site 4 4 – SCENIC TOURS
Big Ditch Park.
(Broadway St.) The “Big Ditch” was formed during a series of floods between 1895 and 1906. Site 10
Silver City Museum. La Capilla The“Little St. Vincent de Paul Church (Market and (312 W. Broadway) Chapel” replica of the
The town’s history is displayed in the 1881 H.B. Ailman house. Site 12
1885 chapel overlooking Silver City that housed a statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Site 14b
Bayard St.) begun in 1874. Mission-style front and towers were added in 1908. Site 16
WNMU Museum
Houses the largest permanent display of Mimbres pottery in the U.S. including the NAN Ranch Collection. Site 18a
HISTORIC SILVER CITY TOUR 1 Enjoy Silver City’s Historic District. Begin this tour at the Murray Ryan Visitor Center, 201 N. Hudson Street. Park in the Visitor Center parking lot.
Map page 9 1. Murray Ryan Visitor Center. 210 N. Hudson Street. 2. McComas House Site. (500 N. Hudson) In the early 1880s Judge H.C. McComas (See Site 9) lived where the present post office is located. After the floods, this area became Silver City’s famous red light district for 60 years. In the 1930s, the McComas House was purchased by Silver City’s most “famous” madam, Millie and then known as “Millie’s.”
Bullard Street in Historic Downtown Silver City - Site 14
M
illions of years ago, fingers of molten rock deposited the copper, silver and gold that would make this one of the Southwest’s richest mineralized areas. Early Indians mined turquoise, and by 1804 the Spanish were digging for copper east of what came to be called the San Vicente Ciénega (today’s Silver City). Silver Discovered. In the spring of 1870, the news reached Pinos Altos of a big silver strike at Shakespeare, near today’s Lordsburg. Captain John Bullard and his men rode south to investigate. After examining the ore, one of the men said, “Boys, if this is what silver looks like, we have plenty of it at home.” They hurried back, and began to dig one half mile west of the present courthouse. Ore from the Legal Tender Mine assayed as high as 100 ounces of silver per ton, a real bonanza. News of the “Ciénega Mines” quickly spread. Town of Silver City Originated. In ten short months, Silver City grew from a single cabin to over eighty buildings, and in 1871, it became the county seat. During the early years of development, all of southwestern New Mexico was harassed by Apache raids. The nearest railroad terminal was in Colorado. The county included what is today’s Deming and Lordsburg all the way to the Mexico border. In spite of the crude methods, Silver City mills were producing $16,000 of bullion a week by 1875. It soon became the supply center for the booming industry. By the end of 1872, a local brick plant enabled solid, well-built businesses and houses to be built. In 1875, the first fire engine in the NM Territory made it possible for a volunteer fire department to be formed. When the government telegraph line reached Fort Bayard in 1876, local citizens furnished the materials to connect Silver City with the outside world.
3. Billy the Kid Jail Site. (Northeast corner of Broadway and Hudson, 304 N. Hudson.) The U.S. Forest Service warehouses are on the site of the jail. In 1875 Billy, age 15, was held for stealing from a Chinese laundry. He escaped out the chimney. Legend suggests Billy killed his first man or knifed a Chinaman at several sites. No evidence can be found. (See page 24.) 4. Billy the Kid Cabin Site. Silver City Visitor Center. (201 N. Hudson, NM 90.) Billy spent part of his childhood here, in a cabin similar to this, with his mother, brother, and stepfather. The cabin was torn down by 1894 and the floods of 1895-1903 destroyed the original site. This cabin, similar to cabins of that era, was donated by Ron Howard’s 2003 movie The Missing. 5. Star Hotel Site. (Southwest corner of Broadway and Hudson across the street from Visitors Center.) Billy the Kid waited tables while he lived here with the Truesdell family following the death of his mother. 6. Carrasco Mill Site. (Below Broadway, between Bullard and Hudson.) Lorenzo Carrasco had one of the first ore-grinding mills. His adobe furnaces produced the first silver bullion in the area, handling ore from Silver City, Pinos Altos, and other area mines. Turn right (west) onto Broadway to Site 10. OPTIONAL DRIVING TOUR: Sites 7-9 South on NM90 to look at the history of copper mining.
7. Harrison Schmitt School. (Mile Marker 40.5, NM90) Named for Apollo 17 astronaut and geologist. Harrison “Jack” Schmidt was born in Santa Rita, NM and grew up in Silver City. He was the 12th and last man to walk on the Moon in 1972. From 19771983 he served as a New Mexico Senator in Washington, DC. 8. Old Tyrone/Phelps Dodge Copper Electrowinning Plant. (MM32, NM 90) Phelps Dodge & Co. consolidated its holdings beginning in 1909. A “Mediterraneanstyle” company town was ready in 1915. A drop in copper prices caused it to be abandoned virtually overnight. From 1928-41 it became a dude ranch. In the late 1960s the operation resumed as an open pit mine. Today, the mine is owned by Freeport-McMoRan and supports a modern electrowinning copper recovery plant producing plates of .999 copper. SCENIC TOURS – 5
Walking Bridge Over Big Ditch Park - Site 10, O.S. Warren House - Site 15
9. McComas Massacre Site. (Note: Site only, MM19.1, NM90) Here Judge McComas (See Site 2) and his wife were killed by a band of Gerómino’s Apaches in 1883; their 6-year-old son was kidnapped and taken to Mexico. To the northwest on Jack’s Peak, the Smithsonian Institute operated a solar radiation observatory until 1938. Reverse your course. Turn around and travel north on NM90, back to Silver City.
10. Big Ditch Park. (Broadway Street) Originally the town’s Main Street, the “Big Ditch” was formed during a series of floods between 1895 and 1906. In 1980 it became a city park. (See The Big Ditch, opposite.) 11. Bell Block. (200 block W. Broadway.) Today the restored Bell Block brightens the downtown. Built in 1897, expanded in 1906, sheathed in galvanized metal stamped with intricate designs resembling carved stone. 12. Silver City Museum. (312 W. Broadway, 538-5921.) Housed in the restored 1881 Mansard/Italianate H. B. Ailman House, the Silver City Museum offers unique exhibits and programs that tell the stories, and
6 – SCENIC TOURS
Silver City Charter. In 1878 Silver City was granted a territorial charter under which the town operates today, one of the oldest of the few territorial charters in the U.S. The city was one of the first to establish a public school and in 1882 became the first independent school district in New Mexico. — edited from Helen Lundwall history The Big Ditch (Site 10). After July 21, 1895, Silver City’s Main Street was no longer the principal artery. Floodwaters engulfed the streets as “an immense wall of rolling water, 12' high and 300’ across, roared through the heart of town.” By the next morning, the waters had receded and local residents saw a monstrous ditch 35 feet below the street level. Later floods, especially one in 1903, scraped the ditch down to bedrock at 55 feet. The excavation ran about 15 miles. Changes Caused. Before the floods, commerce was about equal on either side of Main Street. After the creation of the Big Ditch, a number of “entertainment parlors” moved onto Hudson Street. Why Did It Happen? Ground cover absorbed and delayed earlier flood runoff. By 1895, livestock growers and wagon freighters had grazed the higher meadows to bare ground, and wood haulers had stripped forested slopes to feed household fires and industrial furnaces. After The Flood. The watershed is again covered with vegetation, thanks to conservation, including countless “check dams” built by the CCC in the 1930s,
celebrate the rich and diverse history and cultural heritage of southwestern New Mexico. The changing exhibits interpret the events and cultures that created one of the most intriguing regions in the Southwest. The museum offers a wide variety of programs and hands-on learning opportunities for the entire family, so there is always something new and fun to do. Open every day except Monday, it is located at 312 West Broadway. The Museum Store features excellent southwest books, and the work of many New Mexico artists and craftspeople. 13. Grant County Courthouse. (Broadway and Cooper) The courthouse was erected in 1930. In the lobby, two murals by Santa Fe artist Theodore Van Soelen depict the area’s ranching and mining history. At this point the Tour reverses. Go east back down Broadway and turn right on Bullard Street.
Yankie Street in Historic Downtown Silver City.
R
ecognized as one of the nation’s culturally progressive small communities, Silver City broke into the top three slots of Modern Maturity’s Best Small Towns in America, was listed by John Villani as one of The Hundred Best Small Art Towns in America and chosen by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in its Dozen Distinctive Destinations. The strong visual and performing arts activities, museums and the renovated historic district have created an end-destination worthy of America’s culture-hungry travelers. A wide range of galleries and creative specialty shops are located throughout the university and historic districts and in the mountain village of Pinos Altos. A performing arts season that includes international talent is sponsored by the Mimbres Region Arts Council and the Grant County Community Concerts Assn. Special events with nationally acclaimed participants include the Silver City Blues Festival, Tour of the Gila, Wild Wild West Pro Rodeo, Chocolate Fantasia, The Silver City Clay Festival, Red Dot Studio & Gallery Walk, Pickamania! and Tamal Fiesta Y Mas. The Silver City Museum, housed in the 1881 Victorian home of H.B. Ailman, and the Western New Mexico University Museum, with the world’s largest permanent display of artifacts from the thousand-year-old Mimbres Culture, are the pride of the community.
14a.Lower Bullard Street. On the southwest corner of Bullard and Broadway stands a 1923 bank building (designed by southwestern architect Henry Trost) with the original terracotta front and brick design. Directly across, on the north, is the 1882 Meredith & Ailman bank, with its original cast-iron front. Many of the buildings date back to the 1880s. The street was named after John Bullard, a founder of Silver City. One year after his discovery of silver in 1870, the 24-year-old Bullard was killed by Apaches (See Site 20). On the hill to the south overlooking Silver City is La Capilla Chapel. (Site 14b).
14b.La Capilla Chapel. Originally constructed in 1885, the “Little Chapel” overlooking Silver City was built to house a statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe. A replica was built in 2004. Trails join Boston Hill and Big Ditch trail systems. Reverse and go back (north) on Bullard Street.
14c.Upper Bullard Street. At Market Street to your right is the entrance to Big Ditch Park (See Site 10) and on the left is The Warren House (See Site 15). 15.O.S. Warren House. (Market Street) Overlooking the Big Ditch is the 1885 Italianate red brick O.S. Warren house. Once owned by the indefatigable Elizabeth Warren, the first woman insurance agent in New Mexico, it’s today’s only survivor of the Main Street floods. From Bullard Street, turn left onto Market Street.
Celebrating 114 Years
Located in the downtown historic district. Reminiscent of a small hotel in the European Tradition.
• Affordable Rates • 18 Rooms & Suites • Continental Breakfast • Wi-Fi • Cable TV • Special Meeting & Event Room
106 W. Broadway • Silver City, NM 88061
575-388-1811
www.silvercitypalacehotel.com
Visit Ol West Gallery & Mercantile next door.
SCENIC TOURS – 7
16. Saint Vincent de Paul Church. (Market and Bayard, 420 W. Market.) This stuccoed adobe was begun in 1874 by the town’s Hispanic community. Its Mission-style front and towers were added in 1908. Directly across from the church, at the SW corner of Market and Pinos Altos, is the Queen Anne-style Martin Maher house, built in 1887 of locally-made red brick. Turn right on Black Street, right on Kelly Street and left onto Bullard Street.
Just before reaching Sixth Street, you will pass on your left two older houses: one at 503 Bullard, built in 1887 as a dentist’s office, and another at 511 Bullard, the Isaac Cohen house built in 1882 and now restored. These buildings were once part of a Victorian residential area. Turn left onto Sixth Street.
Turn right on Black Street.
The house at 806 Black Street was owned by Mrs. Thomas Lyons, of the famous “million acre” Lyons & Campbell Ranch; her daughter owned the other houses on this block. (See Tour 5, Site 5.) Continue on Black Street to College Ave. OPTIONAL DRIVING TOUR: Sites 18-20. Travel north on College Ave. , turn right onto West Street, go one block, turn left on 10th Street to upper parking ares for WNMU Museum (Site 18a) Elevator access.
18a.WNMU Museum. (Two-story Fleming Hall, 538-6386, open daily except University holidays.) The museum has the largest permanent display of prehistoric Mimbres pottery in the United States including the NAN Ranch Collection. These world-famous pots with their painted designs date from the 8th to 12th century A.D. Casas Grandes prehistoric Indian pottery, stone tools, ancient jewelry, southwestern historical photos and oral history recordings, and military and mining artifacts are on display. 18b.Western New Mexico University. Established in 1893, WNMU offers more than 70 fields of study in areas such as accounting, criminal justice, education, nursing and zoology. The campus is home to five buildings on the national historic registry, a museum featuring Mimbres pottery, a contemporary art gallery and the 1,000 seat Fine Arts Center Theater. www.wnmu.edu 18c. St. Mary’s Academy. (1800 Alabama Street) The academy opened in 1918 as a “select boarding school for girls.” 19a.Silver City Water Works (est. 1887). (Little Walnut Road) Provided the City’s first water supply, collected from subsurface streams in a tunnel or “collection gallery.” The tunnel drained to a well and was pumped from there into the building, and then boosted to a reservoir. The pumps were initially steam powered, first using wood and then coal. An engineer lived with his family in the two-story portion, as he had a 24-7 job to keep the pumps running. A stonemason from Michigan constructed the building of locally quarried sandstone. The Waterworks was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1984. 19b. Mineral Display. (1805 Little Walnut Rd) Excellent display of mineral samples at Royal Scepter for the rockhounder, and ore samples from nearby mines for those interested in the history and beauty of rock specimens from Southwest sources. Continue east to Memory Lane Cemetery.
20a-c. Billy the Kid’s Mother’s Grave. (M115.7, US180, Memory Lane Cemetery) Catherine McCarty Antrim, Billy’s mother, died of tuberculosis on Sept. 16, 1874. She was buried in town but later was moved to Memory Lane Cemetery (left to Cypress Lane, right to 9th tree). Four graves to the north lies John Bullard (See Site 14a). (Turn west to Rose Lane and go north to first intersection to left.) Ben Lilly, mountain man and lion hunter, is buried 50' to the southwest. From Memory Lane, continue north across US180. At next stop sign turn right onto Pinos Altos Road, NM 15. Or turn right on US180 and continue 4 miles to Silver City Visitor Center.
20d. Gila Regional Medical Center. (32nd Street) Gila Regional Medical Center is a county-owned, not-for-profit, 68-bed acute care hospital. Gila Regional has a strong commitment to the people it serves. Investments in technology and certified caregivers provide quality care delivery through a patient-centered approach. It is home to the Cancer Center and the Surgical Center of the Southwest. 8 – SCENIC TOURS
Photo by Jay Hemphill courtesy WNMU
17. Sixth Street. On Sixth Street you will pass a number of fine 1880s brick homes. At the northwest corner of Bayard and Sixth Street is the Edmund Stein home, overlooking the site of New Mexico’s first twostory brick public schoolhouse. At Cooper Street, to the right are 1883 brick rental houses. At the northwest corner of Sixth and Black is David Abraham’s 1883 home.
Western New Mexico University - Site 18b
Telephones were first installed in 1883. An electric light plant was completed the following year—only two years after New York City installed its first electric system.
T
he Southern Pacific Railroad reached Deming in 1881, inspiring local citizens to build a branch line to Silver City. Telephones were first installed in 1883. An electric light plant was completed the following year—only two years after New York City installed its first electric system. Silver City Boom Over! In 1893 the bottom dropped out of the silver market. Mines closed down. Silver City paused, caught its breath, and then moved ahead. The use of brick was encouraged by an 1880 fire ordinance which prohibited frame construction, saving Silver City from the destructive fires of many western towns. Perhaps its sturdy brick architecture helped it defy a ghost town’s fate. Maybe it was the populace of Hispanics and Anglos, determined to make this their home. The cattle industry was well-developed with some large holdings extending as far south as Mexico. At the turn of the century, Silver City’s high, dry climate made it a haven for invalids and tubercular patients. One of the state’s first teaching schools prospered. Eventually, with new mineral discoveries, the town stabilized as the leading metal producer in the state. — edited from Helen Lundwall history
HISTORIC SILVER CITY TOUR MAP
Regional Minerals, Fossils, and Gems • Rock Hound Books and Gear • Southwest Jewelry • Beading and Jewelry Supplies • Unique Gift Selection
Mon. - Fri. 10am to 5pm
1805 Little Walnut Road just off US Hwy 180 West royalsceptergems@yahoo.com
575.538.9001 • www.royalscepter.com SCENIC TOURS – 9
PINOS ALTOS TOUR 2 Pinos Altos Scenic Tour (M6, NM15): The old mining town. Where the road divides, keep
to the left. At the first intersection over the bridge, turn left onto the dirt road, which loops back to the right.
1.
2.
Hearst Mine. (M5.1, NM15) The Phoebe Hearst (mother of newspaperman William Randolph Hearst) Mine was near the saddle of the two peaks to the west from this historic marker. The Hearsts had interests in ranches, headquartering west of Deming, briefly owned the Santa Rita copper mine and company store, as well as a company store in Pinos Altos, and a mill, probably south of the Gila Regional Hospital. A winding narrow-gauge railroad transported ore from Pinos Altos mines to mills in Silver City. Hearst Church. The adobe MethodistEpiscopal church was built with Hearst money in 1898 and now houses the Grant County Art Guild. A funeral hearse, used for Pat Garrett, and other horse-drawn vehicles are displayed here. Garrett killed Billy the Kid in Lincoln, NM. Continue back to paved road, turn left.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Fort Cobre. This 34⁄ -scale reconstruction, completed in 1980, was of a fort built at Santa Rita copper mine in 1804 to protect the area. It was renamed Ft. Webster in 1851 (See Tour 3, Site 17). The Hearst company store was east across the street. Opera House. The opera house, built in 1969, captures the flavor of an old west opera house with elements from area historic buildings, including the late red-light district of Silver City (See Tour 1, Site 2). There are excellent artifacts and photos in the Buckhorn Saloon (circa 1865). McDonald Cabin. On dirt road directly behind Opera House. John McDonald, an old Indian fighter, was reportedly in this area in 1851. Probably the oldest house in the county. Judge Roy Bean Store Site. SE corner south of Site 4. Probable site of the store operated by (Judge) Roy Bean and his brother Samuel in the 1860s. Pinos Altos Museum. The museum is housed in a log cabin, Grant County’s first private school house, probably built around 1866.
PINOS ALTOS SCENIC TOUR In 1859, a group of For ty-Niners drifting home from Califor nia discovered gold in the Pinos Altos (“Tall Pines”) area. Once a booming county seat, Pinos Altos was a rough and tumble town of gold bonanzas and Apache raids. Tour 2 HIGHLIGHTS
Go north to first arroyo.
8.
First Courthouse. (past arroyo on R) Building housed the only court session in Pinos Altos (1871). Continue to stop sign, and turn left. Trail of the Mountain Spirits Byway continues north to Gila Cliff Dwellings.
9.
Cemetery.(Second gate from N, proceed 50' to east at base of 2 large tree stumps.) Early miners in Pinos Altos, Capt. Thomas Mastin (Marston on grave) and his brother Virgil were killed by Apaches. Return on NM15. Viewpoint at MM 2.1.
10 – SCENIC TOURS
Fort Cobre. This 3⁄4-
scale reconstruction, was of a fort built at Santa Rita copper mine in 1804 to protect the area. Site 3
The Buckhorn Saloon & Opera House. cap-
tures the flavor of the mining era with elements from area historic buildings. Site 4
McDonald Cabin.
John McDonald, an old Indian fighter, was reportedly in this area and lived here in 1851. Site 5
Pinos Altos Museum.
Housed in a log cabin, Grant County’s first private school house, probably built around 1866. Site 7
ROCKHOUNDING WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY KEVIN COOK
Hearst Chruch - Site 2
M
Grant County is well-known for its mineral deposits. Three open pit copper mines, numerous other diggings and the very name of the county seat, Silver City, conjure up images of good mineral collecting sites. Visitors from all over the world stop here to do a little collecting as they Geode travel around the Southwest. Some of the many items that can be collected in Grant County include Native Copper, Chrysocolla, Azurite, Turquoise, Gold, Silver, Obsidian, Fluorite, Amethyst, Chalcedony, Calcite, Ricolite, Moon Stone, Fossils, Petrified Wood, Geodes and Agates. Much of Grant County is rugged high desert and mountain country. Access to collecting sites may require high clearance or four-wheel drive vehicles. Before venturing into remote areas, discuss conditions you might find there with persons familiar with the area. Make sure a responsible someone knows your plan. The US Forest Service is a good source for back road conditions and camping sites. The Forest Service office is located off the 32nd Street bypass (US Hwy. 180 East) (388-8201). Always obtain permission before collecting on private property. Also, look for claim markers and indications of recent activity. A note about safety. The area is strewn with abandoned mine workings, which provide the rock hound with opportunities for finding many minerals. NEVER ENTER A MINE! Be aware that there are many dangerous hidden vertical shafts and openings that can potentially kill or maim. You can often find some spectacular minerals on or near the stockpiles around these mines. The Rolling Stones Gem and Mineral Society is Grant County’s local rock club. If you are new to rock hounding, the Rolling Stones is a great way to learn about rock hounding in the area. The club sponsors the Gem and Mineral Show Labor Day weekend. The Royal Scepter Gems and Minerals (575-5389001) is located at 1805 Little Walnut Rd., off US Hwy. 180 West. Minerals and fossils from Grant County, New Mexico, and around the world are on display, including a very impressive fluorescent mineral display. The shop is open from 10:00 am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday.
INERS. Some of the first to use “arrastras” (burro operated mills to grind the gold ore) were Norero and Ancheta . . . family names still seen in Silver City. In May 1860, Snively, Hicks, and Birch camped on Bear Creek, and Birch found gold. While in Santa Rita for supplies, the men met the Mastin brothers and a man named Langston to whom they confided the news. By September, 700 men were placering nearby, calling their camp “Birchville.” An earlier Mexican settlement called Pinos Altos, is said to have sent gold to Chihuahua in 1837, but that camp disappeared. APACHE INDIANS. Cochise joined the Warm Spring Apaches under Mangas Coloradas to drive out “Los Godammies,” or white men. On September 22, 1861, 400 Apaches attacked the camp. Capt. Thomas Mastin, nine other Arizona Scouts, and the miners stood in defense. The Indians withdrew after fatally wounding Captain Mastin (See Site 9). In time, Mangas Coloradas urged peace and failed, was taken prisoner on January 17, 1863, and killed the following day at Fort McLane (See Tour 6, Site 5). Raids and the Civil War caused Americans to leave, but the Mexicans remained to wash gold and build arrastras. Fabulous getaway In July 1866, Virgil Mastin brought in a 15-stamp mill and a saw nestled in the tall pines of Pinos Altos. mill hauled from St. Louis by oxen. The California Column was dis- • Crackling Fireplaces •Secluded Balconies banded in New Mexico and many stayed. Placering resumed and lode • Relaxing Porches •Telephone •Satellite TV •Barbeque Grill •Hot Tub in Cabana mining started. The camp was again known as Pinos Altos. •Meeting Room • Cabins with kitchens are available. MINING & COMMERCE. In 1868, Ancheta had both trading Conveniently located just 7 miles north of Silver City on NM Hwy. 15. post and arrastra; Samuel G. and (Judge) Roy Bean were dealers in mer575.388.4501 chandise and liquors; the Pinos Altos Co. was incorporated and had 888.388.4515 600–700 inhabitants, 2 stamp mills, many arrastras, three furnaces for Make reservations & view availability online smelting, 2 hotels, several stores, and 7 saloons (which later increased). www.BearCreekCabins.com 88 Main Street • Pinos Altos, NM 88053 —From The Pinos Altos Story by Dorothy Watson.
SCENIC TOURS – 11
TRAIL OF THE MOUNTAIN SPIRITS NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY TOUR The name reflects those who have walked this way through the ages and a sense of the flora and fauna that capture you... making this a mecca for all ages.
Photo by Jackie Blurton
Tour 3 HIGHLIGHTS
Gila River.
(M37.8, NM15)The river contributes to the area’s scenic beauty. Site 9
12 – SCENIC TOURS
Gerómino Monument. (M42.4, NM15)
Apache leader Gerónimo was born at the headwaters of the Gila River in1829. Site 11a
Gila Cliff Dwellings Nat’l. Mon (M43.7,
NM15) Built in the 13th century, 42 rooms within 5 natural caves. Site 12
Lake Roberts.
(M22-24, NM35) Set aside by Congress in 1924 as the first wilderness area in the US. Site 14
Continental Divide.
Fort Bayard.
(M15.1, NM15) At this marker you are crossing the Continental Divide Trail.
(M120.5, US180) Built in 1866 by the “Buffalo Soldiers” of the Ninth Calvary,
Site 15
Site 20
TMS BY-WAY TOUR 3 The Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic By-Way Tour: This tour starts at Silver City and goes through Pinos Altos on NM 15, 1.5 to 2 hours to the highlight of the tour: the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. You then backtrack to NM35 and turn left to Lake Roberts. Follow NM35 along the Mimbres River to NM152. Turn west to the Chino Mine overlook at Santa Rita. Here also is an opportunity to tour some of the old mines in this area. Return to Silver City via US 180 and historic Ft. Bayard. TRAVEL NOTE: This brochure uses highway milepost markers for locating many sites. (e.g., M127.4 US180 means 0.4 miles past marker 127 on US Highway 180.) Food and fuel are available at or near Sites 10, 13, 14, 16, 24 and 25.
Map page 2 1. Murray Ryan Visitor Center. 210 N. Hudson. 2. Pinos Altos. (M6, NM15.) Pinos Altos (“Tall Pines”) was founded about 1859 when a group of forty-niners drifting home from California discovered gold in the area. (See Tour 2, Pinos Altos.) From Pinos Altos, continue on NM15. Note excellent viewpoints.
The Gila National Forest - Site 5
T
he Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway follows the footsteps of those who preceded: Mimbreño, Apache, Spaniard, Mexican, miner, rancher, outdoorsman. See the full variety of Grant County, from the high Chihuahuan desert to the snow-touched wilderness. These are the many sensations you experience when you venture along the Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway. It’s what one video called “The Last Solitude.” As a motorist you’ll drive along a narrow corridor through the first wilderness set aside by Congress. As you step out of your vehicle at one of the many mountain vistas, you’ll sense the feelings of Aldo Leopold and of Teddy Roosevelt as they trekked the area... and then fought hard to set the area aside for future generations to enjoy. The Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway tour, known for years as the "Inner Loop", began as primitive forest roads and jeep trails. In 1994 it was recognized both as a National Forest Scenic Byway and as a New Mexico Scenic Byway. In February 2000, the name was changed to reflect the unanimous name selection "Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway". The name reflects those who have walked this way through the ages and a sense of the flora and fauna that capture you … making this a mecca for all ages.
3. Bear Creek. (M7.4-M10, NM15) Site of gold mining in the early days. Here are the first evidences of mining by Ancheta and Norero. 4. Burro-Drawn Arrastra. (M8.1, NM15) A burro-drawn arrastra (mill) was constructed here. 5. Gila National Forest. (M8.3, NM15) You are entering ponderosa pine country of the Gila (pronounced ‘HEE-la’) Forest. Almost one-fourth of the 3.3 million acre forest is in wilderness, promoted by conservationist Aldo Leopold; set aside by Congress in 1924 as the first such wilderness area in the USA. Some 400 miles of fishing streams lace the entire forest. Wildlife in the Gila includes Rocky Mountain mule deer, Sonoran white-tail deer, beaver, elk, bobcat, mountain lion, black bear. 6. Ben Lilly Park. (M10.1, NM15). This forest overlook honors the mountain man and lion-hunter Ben Lilly. A plaque 150 feet west details Lilly’s life and philosophy. Continuing on NM15, you will pass the entrance to Cherry Creek campground (M12.2) and McMillan Campground (M13.2).
7. Signal Peak.(M14.4, NM15) A winding 7 mile, high clearance dirt road takes you past ponderosa pine, spruce, fir and oak to the top of the peak. From here you can see into Mexico. Signal Peak served as a heliograph point during the Apache wars, signaling with a mirror and the sun’s rays to distant peaks. Viewpoint (M18, NM15) 8. Anderson (Copperas) Vista. (M32, NM15) This outstanding viewpoint shows the headwaters of the Gila River rimmed on the west by the Mogollón Mountains, on the north by isolated peaks and divides, on the east by the Black Range, and on the south by the Pinos Altos Range. There are many other excellent viewpoints on NM15. 9. Gila River. (M37.8, NM15). Gila River flows west to Yuma, AZ. SCENIC TOURS – 13
T
he Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is in the Gila National Forest and lies at the edge of the Gila Wilderness, the nation's first designated wilderness area. Almost one fourth of the 3.3 million- acre forest is a wilderness. Wilderness means the character of the area will not be altered by the intrusion of roads or other evidence of human presence. This unique area reveals the homes of prehistoric Indians in southwestern New Mexico and offers a glimpse into the lives of the Indians that inhabited the region from the 100s to the early 1300s A.D. The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument offers a glimpse of the homes and lives of the people of the Mogollón culture who occupied the caves from the 1280s through the early 1300s. Settlers in the early 1870s penetrated the mountain wilderness, where rise the three forks of the Gila River. They were surprised to find traces of an earlier race of men. Fallen walls of stone, strewn with pottery fragments, clearly indicated a people of high culture who made their homes there. The Gila Cliff Dwellings were built in the 1280s. These Pueblo people built their homes in natural caves and in the open, and examples of both are here. Probably not more than 8-10 families lived in the caves at any one time. The rooms were used for a generation. These small, diligent, artistic people lived in cliff houses and riverside villages. They tilled mesa top and riverside fields with digging sticks, and ground cornmeal with metate and mano. They fashioned pottery and cloth, carrying on trade with other Mogollón communities. They hunted and gathered wild plants and fruit to supplement their crops of squash, corn and beans. They were skilled potters, producing handsome brown bowls with black interiors and black-on-white vessels. The women averaged 5'1" and the men about 5'5" in height. They were slight of build, yet muscular, with dark hair and eyes and brown skin. Seven natural caves occur high in the southeast-facing cliff, and five of the caves contain the ruins of cliff dwellings, about 42 rooms. All the timbers seen in the dwellings are the originals; their tree-ring dates range through the 1280s. The cliff dwellers had abandoned their homes and fields by the early 1300s. Perhaps they joined other Mogollón cultures to the north or south. The sounds of their voices and laughter echoed in the canyon. And then – only the sounds of the streams and birds. The earliest ruin found within the monument area is a pithouse of a type that was made from about 100 to 400 A.D. This dwelling was in the open, was circular, and had a narrow 2' x 10' entrance on the east side; the floor was below ground level. Later pithouses of the Mogollón, prevalent until about 1000 A.D., were usually constructed of masonry or adobe (sun-dried bricks of mud and straw), rectangular, and built entirely above the ground. For more information, contact the Gila Cliff Dwellings Visitors Center at 575-536-9461.
14 – SCENIC TOURS
– National Park Service
10. Gila Hot Springs. (M39.2, NM15) Numerous hot springs in this area heat the homes and greenhouses of residents. Just before Gila Hot Springs is the Grapevine Campground, boasting the world’s largest grapevine. At M43.7 the Heart Bar Wildlife Area was once a ranch’s training ground for polo ponies; the ranch is now operated by Game and Fish for elk and mountain lion studies. (M41.8) 11. Visitors Center for Gila Cliff Dwellings. (M42.4, NM15) Pass the road to the National Monument, continue to the Visitors Center. With displays and artifacts, the Center introduces you to the culture of the Mogollón Indians, who built homes in the cliffs of this area. Near the Center are the remains of a 2.5-acre pueblo, with a pithouse dated at 600 A.D. Get info on hiking and horseback riding. View plaque honoring birthplace of Gerónimo. 11a.Gerónimo Monument. (M42.4, NM15) A monument dedicated to famous Chirichahua Apache leader Gerónimo, who was born at the headwatersof the Gila River in 1829 is loccated at the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Visitor Center. From the Visitors Center, return to the paved National Monument road.
12. Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. (M43.7, NM15) Built late in the 13th century, there are 42 well-preserved rooms within 5 natural caves. See text on this page. Return on NM15, turn left (east) on NM35.
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument - Site 12
F
rom the ancient exquisitely-painted Mimbres pottery to Chino's huge open-pit copper mine, man's presence in Grant County has been long and fruitful. By 400 A.D., the gentle Mogollón culture inhabited these vast pine forests. Later came the more warlike Apaches; in their turn, they saw the march of Spanish soldiers and Mexican settlements; and finally came the fur-trappers, miners and ranchers. This makes up a heritage of which we're very proud, hence the name Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway.
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13. Vista Ruin. (M24, NM 35) This small Mimbres Indian site overlooks Lake Roberts and has a self-guided interpretive trail, covered picnic tables, toilet facilities and a beautiful view of Lake Roberts. 14. Lake Roberts. (M22-24, NM35) This man-made 72-acre lake offers fine fishing, boating, and camping. This is a fee use area. A fishing license or New Mexico Game and Fish GAIN permit is required. There are two campgrounds and numerous trails leading into the forest. Special nature trail and self-interpretive Mimbres Indian site are there. 15. Coninental Divide. Travel south to M15.1. At this marker you are crossing the Continental Divide. Ahead the Mimbres River flows east to the Atlantic; behind you Sapillo Creek flows west to the Gila River and the Pacific. 16. Mimbres Valley. (M1-15, NM35) Scenic route follows the course of the Mimbres River through green orchards and small farms. 17. Fort Webster #2 Site. (NE at intersection of NM61/152) Second location for fort established at Santa Rita to protect the miners from Apache attack (See Tour 2, Site 3). Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway turns west on NM152, an extension loop continues south. Gerómino Trail Scenic Byway continues to the east.
18. Kneeling Nun. (M12 & M2.4, NM152). Note the distinct rock outcropping to the west on the north end of the mountain (Santa Rita open pit at its base). Legend says this spire was once a nun in love with a Spanish soldier and turned to stone as she knelt to pray. Also view at M2.3, NM152.
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SCENIC TOURS – 15
Return west on NM 152. At the railroad crossing you might wish to tour some of the old mines to the north and south, primarily lead, zinc, and copper. (See Mining Tour p.18). Continue west to the junction with US180, (Site 20), Ft. Bayard, entrance is 1⁄4 mile further west.
20. Fort Bayard. (M120.5, US180) Fort Bayard was built in 1866 by the “Buffalo Soldiers” of the Ninth Calvary, an all-black regiment. Statue of Cpl. Greaves, Medal of Honoree, who single-handedly saved his troopers. 2nd Lt. John J. “Black Jack” Pershing served here in 1886-87. From 1899 to 1920, the fort served as an Army tuberculosis sanitarium and later as a veteran’s hospital. Today it is run by the state for the care of elderly and handicapped patients. The Fort borders a state elk refuge and these majestic animals can occasionally be seen nibbling on tender shoots of yucca. A nature trail is available for the handicapped. Ft. Bayard has one of two national cemeteries in New Mexico.
The scenic byway meanders through the Mimbres River Valley, which served as the lifeline for the ancient Mimbres culture. The artistic and peaceful Mimbres Indians left the valley suddenly and mysteriously around 1300 A.D. Now, hints of intimate little pueblos lie buried, and one wonders about the figures on the overhanging cliff walls and tries to understand their meaning. The legacy of their abandoned villages and artwork can be found throughout the area, mixed with relics of Spanish explorers in the late 1700s and Apache camps. The Apaches, called the Tchi-he-nde or Red Paint people, moved south to camp and continued the tradition of farming. Spaniards from Mexico and Spain came to work the mines and made slaves of the Apaches who rebelled. For 80 years, Apache raids, peace treaties, and broken promises made the Mimbres country a place of massacres, expansion, and abandonment; the Mexican War, the Gadsden Purchase, Overland Mail, tiny forts, stage stations, and the stage crossing of the Mimbres at Mowry City. By the 1860s and 70s, Anglo and Hispanic settlers were also drawn to the fertile soil. Small-scale mining and sawmilling continues in the upper Mimbres. Local farm produce is also marketed. The Mimbres Area is one of sun and tranquility. Along the cottonwood-lined banks of the Mimbres, farms and orchards hug together to drink the cold, clear water in abundance. High above, the Mimbres gets its start from snow-fed streams of the Black Range. Up in the pines and piñón, deer, bear and elk still run nearly as unmolested as they did in Mowry days. — by Betty Woods One branch of the Mogollón culture lived in the Mimbres Valley as early as 750 A.D. The Mimbreño Indians were small, brown-skinned people who farmed, made exquisite pottery and kept diaries on convenient cliff walls. The pottery they produced, with its finely-painted geometric and naturalistic designs, is world-famous today. You travel in the footsteps of the pre-historic Mimbres Indians as they fish the streams, cultivate primitive corn and are surrounded by the laughter of children playing in the canyons. You hear the quiet voice of the trapper traveling in territory into which white settlers have never ventured. You sense the quietness of the peaceful headwaters of the Gila into which the famous Apache leader Gerómino was born. Sense some of their pride in this region. Hear the voices of the Buffalo Soldiers as their patrols venture deeper into the wilderness trying to maintain peace. Walk the paths of the early miner trying to find the mother lode up the next canyon. Mimbres pottery is the Wedgewood of Southwest ware for its remarkable geometric and life form designs that make it distinctive above all prehistoric ceramics.
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Photo by LeAnne Knudsen
19. Santa Rita/Chino Mines Open Pit Copper Mine. (M5.8, NM152). John Sully, at the request of G.E. Co. in 1904, studied the property for possible operation as an open pit mine. But G.E. lost interest. Sully persevered, and received financial backing in 1909, starting Chino Copper Company, and built a new mill at Hurley (9 mi. away). Kennecott bought the mine in the 1930s, built a smelter in 1939, added a fire refinery in 1942, a reduction mill in 1983, and a new smelter in 1984. Mitsubishi bought 30% in the early 1980s. Phelps Dodge bought the remaining 70% later. FreeportMcMoRan purchased the mine in 2007 and the smelter was dismantled in 2007.
FORT BAYARD NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK Fort Bayard ser ved as U.S. Army post during Indian Wars 1866-1899 and as an Army Sanatorium from 1899-1920. Today it provides geriatric and veterans care and substance abuse treatment.
O
nce home to the Mimbres and "Red Paint" Chiricahua Apaches, irregular cavalry troops protecting settlements had camped in the area during the Civil War. In 1865, it was requested that a new fort be established in the southwestern region. In 1866, the 125th U.S. Infantry established Fort Bayard between Pinos Altos and Santa Rita. The post was name Fort Bayard in honor of Gen. Bayard who had served in the Territory before being killed at the Battle of Fredericksburg. In 1871 a lieutenant described the fort: "The locality was all that could be desired; the Post everything undesirable." From 1873-75 it went from tents and huts to adobe officers’ quarters. Later the Fort was known as one of the most attractive posts in the southwest. Fort Bayard was home to Native American Indian Scouts, Buffalo Soldiers (several were Medal of Honor recipients, recognized by the statue of honoree Cpl. Clinton Greaves), and Will Cathay (A.K.A. Cathy Williams) who was the only known female Buffalo Soldier. Gen. George Crook and Lt. "Black Jack" Pershing served at the post. The Indian threat ended when Gerónimo surrendered in 1886. In 1899, facing abandonment, the Fort was transferred to the Army Medical Department because of the healing qualities of the high altitude and dry sunny climate. It became the first U.S. Army tuberculosis sanatorium, with Major D.D.M. Bushnell in charge. R.N. Kinney, later director of Army Nurses Corps, supervised the inclusion of female nurses in the Department. In 1922, under the Veterans Administration, WW-I and WW-II veterans were rehabilitated. German POWs were housed. In 1965 under the State of New Mexico it was made a long-term health care center. The 1866 cemetery was named a National Cemetery in 1976. Fort Bayard was designated a New Mexico Historic District in 2001 and a National Historic Landmark in 2004.
Fort Bayard National Cemetery - Tour 3, Site 20
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Fort Bayard, built by “Buffalo Soldiers” in 1866 - Tour 3, Site 20
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Santa Rita/Chino Open Pit Copper Mine - Site 4
MINING SCENIC TOUR Mangas Coloradas, “Red Sleeves,” chief of the Apache nation, sent arrows tipped with copper flying into camps as his “calling cards.” Kit Carson wrote of storing a load of furs in an old mine at Santa Rita. CHINO MINES. The oldest active mine in the southwest, the “Santa Rita del Cobre”, was worked as early as 1800 by Col. José Manuel Carrasco. Convict labor from New Spain mined the shafts, with mule trains of ore sent down the Janos Trail to Chihuahua, Mexico. Under the ownership of Don Francisco de Elguea, an impressive adobe fort (See replica Tour 2, Site 3) was built near the mine, along with smelters and numerous buildings. Though profitable, the mine eventually had to be abandoned to the Apaches. In 1851, the old fort served as a ready-made base for the U.S.-Mexican Boundary Survey; a year later it became the site of Ft. Webster (See Tour 3, Site 17), the area’s first U.S. military establishment.
Photo courtesy Freeport
Tour 4 HIGHLIGHTS
Kneeling Nun(M2.3,
NM152)Legend, once a nun in love with a Spanish soldier and turned to stone as she knelt to pray. Site 1 18 – SCENIC TOURS
Mining Equipment.
(M6,NM152)Hauling truck operating at Santa Rita/Chino Open Pit Copper Mine. Site 4
Georgetown Site & Cemetery (M6.9,
NM152) A silver-mining boomtown until the Silver Panic of 1893. Site 5
Vanadium.(US180,
NM356, 2.6 mi. right) ASARCO’s Ground Hog lead-zinc mine and mill until late 1970s. Site 13
Tyrone Overlook.
(M32, NM90) View extensive mine reclamation of barren rock dumps. Site 14
Burro-Drawn Arrastra Site (M7.8, NM15) A
burro-drawn arrastra (mill) to grind ore in mid-1800s, north of Pinos Altos. Site 16
I
n the late 19th century, the mine was reopened and the town of Santa Rita was reborn. The huge open pit, started about 1910, soon consumed Santa Rita. The mine itself is now operated by Freeport-McMoRan. Giant-sized machines scoop the ore from the earth and huge 200-ton ore trucks transport it to the reduction mill to the southwest of the pit. The Chino Overlook provides an excellent viewpoint. — from Chino Regularly scheduled Historic mining district tours available on the second Tuesday of each month from the Bayard City Hall, 800 Central, Bayard. Tours leave at 10am on a Corre Caminos bus. Reservations are required at $5 and are about 11⁄2 hours. Learn more about the underground mining history of the area. View historic mine headframes and the open pit copper mine at Santa Rita by a knowledgeable guide. Call 537-3327 for reservations and information.
SANTA RITA. In 1803 Franscisco Manuel Elguea, a Chihuahua banker and businessman, founded the town of Santa Rita. He named it Santa Rita del Cobre. Famous residents include Ralph Kiner, National Baseball Hall of Fame; Harrison Schmidt, Apollo 17 astronaut; and William Harrell Nellis, for whom Nellis Air Force Base was named. APACHE MINERS. Indians harvested the copper that “grew from the ground in fernlike pieces.” Mangas Coloradas or “Red Sleeves,” chief of the Apache nation, sent arrows tipped with copper flying into camps as his “calling cards.” This was after Indians were slain in 1837 by a howitzer concealed in the brush. The Indians cut off all supplies, remnants of the camp fled south; Santa Rita remained a ghost town until 1858. SPANISH MINERS. The Santa Rita del Cobre Mine was old when the California Gold Rush began. Lt. Col. José Carrasco ignored orders to destroy the Apache. Instead, he did a favor for the Indians who showed him native copper and where to find more. About 1800, Carrasco and a party of 24 arrived in Santa Rita and opened the second oldest copper mine in the U.S. (only Lake Superior’s deposits were known earlier). AMERICAN MINERS. Trappers seeking beaver learned about the mine. Kit Carson wrote of storing a load of furs in an old mine. Sylvester Pattie decided to buy it, but left when a trusted employee absconded with $30,000 of his capital. END OF INDIAN RAIDS. In 1872, Cochise, successor to Mangas Coloradas, agreed to move his tribesmen to reservations. Martin B. Hayes took over the old copper mines, including one known as the “Chino” (“Chinaman”), but Gerónimo continued to war against the whites. While Gerónimo was held captive (1877–1882), J. Parker Whitney bought out the Santa Rita. Richer veins played out. At that time, no one knew the low-grade sulphide rock would become the foundation of one of state’s greatest industries.
TYRONE. Operations started 1909 when Phelps Dodge Corp. bought several claims, the first of 300 they would own by 1916. Mrs. James Douglas and Mrs. Dodge engaged Bertram Goodhue, later of San Diego Exposition fame, who designed Spanish-type office buildings and homes— excluding outdoor plumbing, saloons, and brothels. When mines closed nationwide in 1921, Tyrone became the “most beautiful ghost town in the west” and served for a time as a dude ranch. Sept. 1, 1966, Phelps Dodge established its large open pit copper mine and mill, and the “Sleeping Beauty” awakened. Fred Borenstein is said to have bought the $100,000 railroad depot for salvage and sold it for $1. He didn’t have the heart to wreck it. Freeport-McMoRan purchased the Tyrone mine in 2007. — from Silver City Enterprise
MINING TOUR 4 This tour gives a good feel for the extent mining has influenced history in this area. Take US180 east & NM152. Highway milepost markers were used to aid you (e.g., M2.3, NM152). Round-trip mileage from Silver City: sites A-M, 45 mi.; site N, 30 mi.; sites O-R, 20 mi.
1. Kneeling Nun (M2.3, NM152) (See Tour 3, Site 18). 2. Mathis Lime (M3.2, NM152) Lime for copper recovery. 3. Kearney Mine (M5.7, NM152 on the left) The headframe and dump on the hill to your left was a zinc mine operated by Peru Mining or its successor until 1974. 4. Santa Rita/Chino Open Pit Copper Mine (M6, NM152) See details in Tour 510. Mine and concentrator in distance to right, operated by Freeport-McMoRan, produce a copper concentrate for eventual treatment in a smelter. (See Site 14). Copper sulfate from a leaching operation is currently processed through a solvent extraction/electrowinning plant (to east) resulting in plates of .999 copper. 5. Georgetown Site and Cemetery (M6.9, NM152) Georgetown, once called the treasure vault of New Mexico, was a silver-mining boomtown that prospered until the Silver Panic of 1893. The cemetery is 4 mi. north on scenic Georgetown Rd. The town site is 1 mi. north of the cemetery. (Return west on NM152, 2 mi. to NM356 (Fierro Rd.), CHECK MILEAGE, and turn north).
6. Empire Zinc Mine & Mill (0.3 mi. on Fierro Rd.) Empire Zinc was operated by New Jersey Zinc until 1970. 7. Republic Mine (1.6 mi.). Iron mine workings on left (also NE). 8. St. Anthony’s Church (2.8 mi.) Old church with superb view of the Mine and Mill (See Site 9) from parking lot. Stone religious grotto. 9. Cobre Mining Mine and Mill (Seen from Site 8) Sharon Steel operated this mill, open pit, and underground mine until copper prices dropped too low. Now Cobre Mining owned by Freeport-McMoRan. Forest Road to North. Return south on NM356, CHECK MILEAGE when crossing NM152.
10. Princess Mine (NM356, 0.2 mi., on hill to left). Headframe is US Smelting & Refining’s old Princess mine operated through the 1960s. 11. Combination Mine (NM356, 0.5 mi. on right). The remains of an old ASARCO lead-zinc mine; reclaimed in 1995. 12. Santa Rita Concentrator (NM356, 2.5 mi. to NE). Leach dump is on hill to right. 13. Vanadium (NM356, 2.6 mi. right) ASARCO’s Ground Hog lead-zinc mine and mill until late 1970s. Go south 2.5 mi., turn right onto US180 and return to Silver City. Return via US180, go south 15 mi. on NM90. 14. Freeport-McMoRan Tyrone Mine (M32, NM90) Ore from this large open-pit operation is leached and the recovered copper sulfate solution is processed through a solvent extraction/electrowinning plant, giving .999 copper. Return through Silver City, north on NM15. 15. Hearst Mine (M5.1, NM15) For details (See Tour 2, Site1). The Hearst mine was in the saddle (to west) between peaks. 16. Burro-Drawn Arrastra Site (M7.8, NM15) Burro-drawn arrastra to grind ore in mid-1800s (See Tour 3, Site 4). A short dirt road leads to a parking area for this site.
17. Legal Tender Mine (Directly west, behind the County Courthouse.) City’s original silver mine. 18. Mineral Museum (2 blocks north on Little Walnut Road) Mineral displays at Royal Scepter for the rockhounder and those interested in the history and beauty of rock specimens. SCENIC TOURS – 19
Photo by Bill Allen
Gila National Forest & Wilderness Area - Site 11 and Tour 3, Site 5
GILA HIGH COUNTRY SCENIC TOUR You will go into the ver y hear t of the 3.3 million acre Gila National Forest, past high meadows, r unning streams, and sudden vistas.
I
Photo by Debra Sutton
n 1899 a large section of rugged forested mountains and rolling woodlands was set aside as a new public domain; eventually this would form the base of the almost 3.3 million acre Gila National Forest (pronounced Hee-la). Today, these mountains and canyons, ranging in elevation from 4,200 to 11,000 feet, comprise one of the nation’s largest undisturbed natural areas. In the 1880s Mogollón (“Mug-e-Yone”) roared into existence with a production of gold that might have satisfied Coronado. Despite Apache attacks, the Mogollón area produced millions of dollars in gold and silver ore. The ore went down the long trail to Silver City in clanking 18-mule team ore wagons. In the summer, Mogollón offers shops, a cafe and sights that tease your imagination. Many old buildings still stand, and the mining museum and gallery preserve interesting artifacts of area history. The movie “My Name Is Nobody” with Henry Fonda and Terence Hill was filmed here. If you are continuing east on NM159, have adequate gas and supplies. The next services will be along the Mimbres River, 120-170 miles away. Sections of the road to Snow Lake climb above 9,000 feet. This stretch, from Mogollón through the Willow Creek area, is difficult and a better route is through Reserve, NM, on FS141. Tour 5 HIGHLIGHTS
Continental Divide.
(M109.5, US180) 6,230 ft. You cross the Continental Divide four times. Site 3
20 – SCENIC TOURS
Bill Evans Lake
(M87, US180, W on FR809) 65-acre lake stocked by the NM Dept. of Game and Fish. Site 6
Gila River (M85, US180) It nurtures some of the best remaining SW riparian habitats. See heron and other birds. Site 9
Glenwood Hatchery.
(M50.5, US180) Observe schools of trout swimming in the raceways and fish in the pond. Site 15
Cooney’s Tomb
(M46.1, US180, 5 mi. on FR701) Sgt. James Cooney, was buried in a tomb carved in a huge boulder. Site 18
Snow Lake. (39 mi. east of Glenwood, FR142) At 7,400 feet, the100acre lake offers fishing, camping, hiking, and picnicking. Site 22
WHITEWATER CANYON is a steep rugged gorge that originates deep in the Gila Wilderness. A fast flowing stream passes through the narrow canyon outlet beneath The Catwalk and into picnic grounds near an old mill site. The flow continues downstream through Glenwood to converge with the San Francisco River. The Catwalk National Recreation Trail provides able hikers access to pristine wilderness trout waters above The Catwalk. Check with the forest service for conditions and accessibility. Publisher’s Note: New construction on the the metal walkways and trail is scheduled to begin the summer of 2015 due to 2013 floods.
THE CATWALK The town called both Graham and Whitewater grew up around a mill built by John T. Graham in 1893 and survived less than 10 years. All that remains to mark the spot is part of the mill walls still clinging to the west side of the canyon near the entrance to The Catwalk. The mines above the canyon were worked from their discovery in 1889 until 1942 (Billy the Kid's stepfather, William Antrim, was a blacksmith at Graham). The Helen Mining Company was first to develop 13 claims about 4 miles upstream from the mill, which could not be built closer to the mines because of the rough, narrow canyon. A 3-mile, 4-inch metal pipeline provided a continuous water supply to the town and its electric generator. A larger 18" pipeline was built in 1897 to run a big, new generator. Today’s Catwalk follows the route of the original line. Pipe used in the water line was delivered to the site on wagons drawn by teams of up to 40 horses. Ore was pulled down the mountain by smaller teams to an ore chute, located on the ridge just above the mill. Brace holes were drilled into the solid rock walls, sometimes 20 feet above the canyon floor, to hold the timbers and iron bars that supported the smaller water line along its meandering course. Some of the original 18" pipes support sections of the present-day Catwalk. The massive rock walls of Whitewater Canyon saw few visitors until the Civilian Conservation Corps. was assigned the task of rebuilding The Catwalk as a recreation attraction for the Gila National Forest. The present metal catwalk was built by the Forest Service in 1961 and extensively renovated in 2004. – Eve Simmons Call the Gila National Forest at 575-388-8201 or Glenwood Ranger District, 575-539-2481 for trail conditions.
OGOLLÓN The small community of Mogollón (mo-goh-yone) sits at 6,800 feet in the Mogollón Range of the mountains of the Gila Wilderness. In the late 1800s, with the discovery of rich veins of ore on Silver Creek, Mogollón was one of the West’s wildest and richest mining towns. In its heyday Mogollón boasted a population of some 3,000 to 6,000 souls and, because of its isolation, was truly one of the wildest, shoot-'em-up mining towns in the West. Mining continued up to the 1950s and resumed for a short time in the 1970s before coming to a halt. Today, Mogollón is an interesting ghost town comprised of old wooden and adobe buildings and nearby mining sites with only a handful of hardy year-round residents. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between May and October, visitors to Mogollón will find an art gallery, mining museum, antique store, and small cafe open for business, along with seasonal weekend accommodations. A hike to the local graveyard is short in distance but long in history. Beginning at the old school house at the north end of the main street in Mogollón, a rough gravel road leads
M
GILA HIGH COUNTRY TOUR 5 This tour takes you to Cliff/Gila, Glenwood and Mogollón. Billy the Kid’s stepfather, William Antrim, was a blacksmith at Graham, a mining area above Whitewater Canyon in Glenwood. Take US180 west from Silver City.
Map page 2 1. Silver City Visitor Center. 210 N. Hudson. 2. Chloride Flat. (M112, US 180) Soon after the initial silver strike in 1870, Lorenzo Carrasco and others made new discoveries at Chloride Flat, west of town . . . the first major silver district in New Mexico, producing over 2 million ounces in its 20 years. The Carrascos had experience in Mexico. By producing the first marketable silver bullion, Carrasco brought in prospective miners and was largely responsible for the town’s favorable reputation as a mining district. 3. Continental Divide (M109.5, US180) 6,230 ft. You cross the Continental Divide four times. 4. Mangas Springs (M94, US180) In the late 1700s the Spanish knew this as Santa Lucía, a meeting place and bivouac for their expeditions. In 1846 Gen. Kearney, guided by Kit Carson, met with the Apache chief Mangas Coloradas. Briefly it was an unofficial reservation for the Mimbres Apaches. 5. Gila/LC Ranch Headquarters (M89, US180) Turning right on RT211, in 4 miles you reach the town of Gila, former headquarters of the once-famous Lyons-Campbell Ranch (private property). In 1884 the ranch was described as the “largest in the world,” 60 miles from north to south and 40 miles from east to west. A bona fide “cattle baron,” Thomas Lyons dreamed of an operation that would make this the biggest cattle market west of Kansas City. The dream failed, and in 1917 he was mysteriously murdered in El Paso. Once part of the LC’s self-sufficient empire, many buildings in Gila remain a testament to the “Lion’s” energy. 6. Bill Evans Lake (M87, US180, W on FR809) This 65-acre lake was created by the Phelps Dodge Corp. and stocked by the NM Dept. of Game and Fish. This is a fee use area. A fishing license or New Mexico State Game and Fish GAIN permit is required. 7. Gila River Bird Habitat Management Unit (M87, US180) This special section of the Gila River in the Gila National Forest is specifically managed as a bird habitat. It is a major migration route and a great variety of riparian, water fowl, and desert scrub species can be seen here. Migrations begin in April. (See direction to this site in Birding Destinations on page 27, Site B9.) 8. Fort West Site (M85.5, US180, E on bluff ) The first American settlement on the Gila, this fort was established in 1863 as part of a campaign against the Apaches. Abandoned a year after construction, the fort was later dismantled. (Now on private property.) 9. Gila River (M85, US180).The Gila River starts in the Gila National Forest and flows west to Yuma, AZ, and the Colorado River. It nurtures some of the best remaining SW riparian habitats. Watch for heron and other birds. 10. Cliff (M84, US180) Cliff was settled about 1884 as a farming and ranching community. To the east are the remains of a four-story, 300-room Salados Indian pueblo, 1425–1575 AD. (private property). The Salado culture was a sub-group of the Anasazi, normally found in Arizona.
OPTIONAL SIDE TRIP: Sacaton Road Drive: A scenic alternative drive to Leopold Vista, Site 11, is a county-maintained, graveled (dirt) road. It follows the base of the Mogollón Range, with 26 miles of beautiful vistas and access to trailheads into the Gila Forest and Wilderness. In Cliff, take NM293 north 2.2 miles; turn left onto Sacaton Road and follow it until Forest Road 147, which exits ½ mile north of the Leopold Vista (See Site 11). Note that the road may be unpassable if there has been recent rain or there is rain in the forecast, and there are a couple of water crossings. Call the Gila National Forest at 575-388-8201 or Glenwood Ranger District, 575-539-2481 for road conditions.
OPTIONAL SIDE TRIP: Gila Riparian Preserve: 7,300 acres along the Gila River, owned by The Nature Conservancy. In Cliff, take NM293 north for 5.5 miles to the Gila River. The Preserve is off to the left; use the stile in the fence to the right of the locked gate to cross into the Preserve. 11. Leopold Vista (M63.6, US180) This stop offers a superb view of the Gila Wilderness. It honors conservationist Aldo Leopold who, influenced by his SCENIC TOURS – 21
13.
14.
15.
16.
Photo by Debra Sutton
12.
experiences in the Gila National Forest, boldly advanced the field of game management. Leopold was instrumental in the designation of the Gila Wilderness as the country’s first wilderness area. Soldiers Hill (M61.6, US180) To the west, in 1885, U.S. troops pursued Apache Indians who divided into three groups and caught the soldiers in a deadly triple crossfire. The soldiers were buried in the WS cemetery (See Site 19). Glenwood (M50, US180) This pleasant community, at the junction of Whitewater Creek and the San Francisco River, attracts numerous hunters and fishermen. Lodging is available. Western artist Olaf Wieghorst has ties to Glenwood; he served with the Cavalry after Pancho Villa’s raid and later worked on area ranches. Alma Jail House and Antrim Cabin (M50.5, US180) The Los Olmos Guest Ranch includes two historic buildings. The Alma jail will give any visitor a claustrophobic sense of prison conditions. The Antrim cabin was built and occupied by William Antrim, stepfather of Billy the Kid. See “Billy the Kid” story page 22. Glenwood Hatchery (M50.5, US180) A half mile east toward the Catwalk is the Glenwood Hatchery operated by the State Dept. of Game and Fish. Visitors are welcome to observe the schools of trout swimming up and down the raceways. Ask about fishing in the pond. The Catwalk. (M50.5, US180) Another five miles up the Whitewater Canyon road will bring you to the unusual Catwalk. This 250-foot metal causeway clings to the sides of the boulder-choked canyon, in some places only 20 feet wide and 250 feet deep. There are many spots where a hiker can leave the trail and relax on the grassy banks of the sycamoreshaded stream. The trail continues into the Wilderness.
Whitewater Canyon - Site 16
Publisher’s Note: New construction on the the metal walkways and trail is scheduled to begin the summer of 2015 due to 2013 floods. The Catwalk is located 5 mi. east of Glenwood, past the Glenwood Hatchery, an excellent stop to visit! From the Catwalk, return to US180. Three miles up US180 is the turnoff to the Mogollón ghost town. Call the Gila National Forest at 575-388-8201 or Glenwood Ranger District, 575-5392481 for trail conditions. Stay on US180 in order to see Alma, Cooney’s Tomb and the WS Ranch. Those not continuing on the loop to Mogollón might wish to travel further on scenic US180 and NM12 to the old ranching community of Reserve, NM.
Mogollón Ghost Town - Site 20
17. Alma (M46, US180) This small community, once a stop on the “outlaw trail” from Mexico, was used as a refuge by such men as Butch Cassidy and his gang. 18. Cooney’s Tomb (M46.1, US180, 5 mi. on FR701) Sgt. James Cooney discovered riches and began to develop his gold and silver deposits after being discharged in 1875. He was killed April 30, 1880, by Victorio and his Apaches. Cooney’s mutilated body was found by friends who carved a tomb out of a huge boulder on Mineral Creek. His brother, Capt. M. Cooney, later came from Chicago to develop the Mogollón mines. 19. WS Ranch and Cemetery. (M44.3, US180) Still in operation, this sprawling ranch was run in the 1890s by the entertaining author, Captain William French. Using aliases, Butch Cassidy and his men once worked as hands at the WS (private land). In 1885, troops were massacred at Soldiers Hill (#12) and were buried in a hillside cemetery here, still visible.
north 1-1/4 miles up Graveyard Gulch into the hills to end, as you might guess, at the old Mogollón graveyard. The road is rough, steep, and in places passes over broken bedrock. While the road can be driven in a high-clearance vehicle, it is much better to make the pilgrimage on foot where the essence of this remarkable place will surely seep in your soul. The hike up Graveyard Gulch is truly a time-warp hike. After passing a few buildings and evidence of modern civilization at the start of the hike, you are quickly transported into another era as you pass by old mine workings, tumbled-down miner's shacks and assorted decaying artifacts of human toil and struggle.
At this point, turn and backtrack to M47.4 and the road to Mogollón. The steep, narrow, paved road to Mogollón is not recommended for large trailers, and may be unpassable during the winter months.
Publisher’s Note: The steep, narrow, paved road to Mogollón is not recommended for large trailers, and may be unpassable during the winter months. East of Mogollón NM159 to Willow Creek becomes a gravel road. High clearance vehicles are recommended. Low clearance vehicles and long trailers are not advised. It's closed in winter and opens in May. Call the Gila National Forest at 575-388-8201 or Glenwood Ranger Dist., 575539-2481 for road conditions.
OPTIONAL SIDE TRIP:
While the road from Mogollón to Willow Creek is reconstructed, an alternate route is through Reserve, NM on FS141.
21. Willow Creek Area (30 miles on NM159) This gravel road to Willow Creek is among the most beautiful in Southwest NM. 22. Snow Lake (39 miles east of Glenwood, FR142) At an altitude of 7,400 feet, the lake is cool and pleasant in the summer. This 100-acre lake offers fishing, camping, hiking, and picnicking. Return to US180. Call the Gila National Forest at 575-388-8201 for road conditions. Forrest Roads are frequently closed.
22 – SCENIC TOURS
Photos by Debra Sutton
20. Mogollón. (M47.4, US180, 9 mi. on NM159) The narrow road to Mogollón first winds to Whitewater Mesa with its high meadow against mountainous backdrop. Almost at the top, you will see across the canyon the tailings of the old Little Fanney Mine (reclaimed in early 1990s), among the richest in the region. Mogollón lies tucked in the narrow valley below.
Publisher’s Note: Whether visiting America’s coastal beaches, inland prairies or majestic mountain ranges, the power of natural forces is evident. Interpretive signage at The Catwalk broadens visitor experience by explaining Mother Nature’s capacity for moving rocks and trees. Recent unusual rain events, some compounded by lightning-initiated forest fires, heavily damaged Mogollon (left) and The Catwalk. Over $14 million has been approved for re-construction over the next few years. A portion of the Whitewater Trail is now open, as well as access from Reserve. Construction to rebuild The Catwalk is scheduled to begin the summer of 2015. Contact the U.S. Forest Service for updated road, trail and campground information in these regions of the Gila National Forest. Silver City 575-388-8201; Glenwood 575.539.2481; Reserve 575-533-8029.
CITY OF ROCKS TOUR 6 City of Rocks Scenic Tour: This tour takes you South of Silver City through the Mining District to Deming and Columbus with an Optional Side Trip to Lordsburg & Portal, AZ. Take US180 east, visit Ft. McLane (Site 5); continue to NM61. Left to City of Rocks State Park (Site 6); Viewpoint (Site 7); continue south on US180 east, to Deming Museum (Site 8); continue east on NM549 and south on NM143 to Rockhound State Park (Site 9) and NM11 to Columbus and Pancho Villa State Park (Site 10).
Map page 2
City of Rocks State Park - Site 6
CITY OF ROCKS AND SOUTH OF SILVER CITY SCENIC TOUR
C
ity of Rocks State Park, located in the extreme southwestern corner of Grant County, is a striking result of the geologic process of erosion. It is a quiet retreat, and a source of unending interest to both adults and children. Theory is that these formations were thrown 180 miles from a volcano near Albuquerque. For some, the park resembles a medieval village; for others it is a collection of misshapen, albeit benign, giants. Essentially, it is a flat-lying sheet of reddish lava which has been chiseled by action of water-borne abrasives into the likeness of a city with streets and buildings. The jointing of the rocks has taken place along vertical rather than horizontal planes, with the consequence that the “streets” are more or less the same height. There are formations which readily suggest giants’ chairs, prehistoric monsters, or creatures of imaginative myth. Adjacent to the formations rises Table Mountain, a perfect example of a mesa. The appearance suggests a cone accurately cut off somewhat below the middle, and the table top, from a distance of a few miles, looks as level as though it had been laid off with surveyor’s instruments. Plant life of the “City” includes shade-providing evergreen oaks. Dominant plants on the surrounding plain are tree yucca, broomweed, and black grama grass. — by Ross Calvin Tour 6 HIGHLIGHTS
1. Santa Clara. (US180). First county seat. Once named “Central.” 2. Bayard. (M124, US180). Now center of the mining district, the town originally was a railroad supply point for Fort Bayard. Regularly scheduled mining tours, call Visitor Center 538-5555. 3. Hurley. (M127, US180) The location of the former Chino Mine Smelter. 4. Mining Museum & Gallery. (M127, US180) Circa 1910, Copper smelter photos, Mimbres Indian artifacts; 99 Cortez. Railroad museum is being developed. 5. Fort McLane. (M131.5, US180). To the east is the site of Fort McLane, established in 1861 to protect Pinos Altos, Santa Rita, and the Butterfield trail. Here the over 70-year-old Apache chief Mangas Coloradas (Red Sleeves), after surrendering near Pinos Altos, was killed while allegedly attempting to escape. 6. City of Rocks State Park. (32 miles south on US180, and 4 miles east on NM61). Formed from an ancient lava flow and eroded by the wind and water, these rock formations create an eerie and fantastical world. Complete with a desert garden, the park offers excellent camping and picnic sites. 7. Viewpoint. (M139, US180, junction NM61) Directly east is the jagged fang of Cooke’s Peak. Almost due south are the Florida Mountains, with the Tres Hermanas (Three Sisters) to their right. West, one can see the Burro Mountains and Jack’s Peak, site of a Smithsonian solar radiation observatory in the 1930s, with the Freeport-McMoRan mine at the base. The Butterfield Trail, Pony Express Route, and Mormon Battalion Trail all passed just to the south. The Janos Trail carried copper ore south to Chihuahua City, Mexico. 8. Deming/Luna Mimbres Museum. Minerals, gems, frontier military history and Mimbres exhibits and collections. 9. Rockhound State Park. A 250-acre park has picnic facilities, overnight camping, hiking trails, wildlife and exhibits on local history and a botanical and native polllinator garden. 10. Pancho Villa State Park. Located on the site of old Camp Furlong where Villa raided the U.S. This 61 acre park offers a massive desert botanical garden, camping and museum/visitor center. If you decide to go into Mexico check New Identification Requirements.Return via US180 to Silver City OPTIONAL ROUTE: Travel I-10 to Lordsburg. Visit Lordsburg Museum, Shakespeare Ghost Town, and Portal,AZ for birding in Chiricahua Mountains.
Mining Museum & Gallery. (M127, US180
99 Cortez) Circa 1910, Copper smelter photos, Mimbres Indian artifacts; Railroad museum is being developed. Site 4
Cooks Peak (M139,
US180, junction NM61). The 8,408 foot peak, a prominant So. NM landmark, can be viewed from I-10 & 1-25. Site 7
Pancho Villa State Park. A 61-acre park
located where Villa raided the U.S. Camp Furlong Day is held in March commenorating the raid. Site 10
Shakespeare Ghost Town.(46 mi. SE on
NM90) Authentically preserved remains of a rough and tumble era of the 1880s. Site 12
11. Lordsburg Museum. Once a stage stop on the Butterfield Trail, relive Lordsburg’s history and the county’s farming and ranching heritage. 12.Shakespeare Ghost Town. Hangings and shootings were commonplace in this 1880s town with no lawmen. Call ahead for tour dates and reenactments. 575-542-9034 shakespeareghosttown. com Return to Silver City on NM90.
SCENIC TOURS – 23
Billy the Kid Cabin Tour 1, Site 4
BILLY THE KID MEMORIES “Come gather round and I’ll sing you a song, A tale of Pat Garrett and the Kid who went wrong, Way down in New Mexico, long, long ago, Where a man’s only law was his own for ty-four. Now when Billy the Kid was a ver y young lad, In old Silver City he went to the bad. Way out West with a knife in his hand, At the age of twelve years he killed his first man.” –from the “Ballad of Billy the Kid”
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ILLY’S ROOTS. The myth that Billy the Kid killed his first man in Silver City is just that—one of many legends surrounding this young gunslinger’s career. Possibly the most written-about western figure, little is actually known about Billy the Kid’s early childhood. He was probably born around 1859 in New York City. In 1873 he was a witness at the marriage of his mother, Catherine McCarty, to William Antrim in Santa Fe. Like many New Mexicans, Antrim was a jack-of-all-trades with a burning desire to strike it rich. So within months of acquiring a wife and two sons, Billy’s stepfather moved his family to the southwest’s newest and richest mining district—Silver City. MEMORIES OF BILLY. Today in Silver City, Billy’s memory lives in family stories handed down and in our imaginations. In a 1902 interview, Sheriff Whitehill summed up his memories of the Kid: “There was one peculiar characteristic that to an experienced man-hunter would have marked him immediately as a bad man,” the sheriff remarked with placid hindsight, “and that was his dancing eyes. They never were at rest, but continually shifted and roved much like his own rebellious nature.” BOYHOOD HOME. In the rough mining boom town, William Antrim purchased a lot on the east side of Main Street, now the Big Ditch, south end of Visitors Center. The log cabin where the Antrim family lived was eventually torn down in 1894. By many accounts, Antrim was a negligent father, away long periBilly the Kid 24 – SCENIC TOURS
above: Today’s Cabin. The cabin on the site was designed after an 1870’s cabin, the era when Billy lived in Silver City. The cabin was donated by producer-director Ron Howard and used in his 2003 movie, “The Missing”.
Photo: Alfred S. Addis Courtesy of Museum of NM. (Negative No. 99054)
Boyhood Home of Billy the Kid - Tour 1, Site 4
ods of time on the perennial quest for gold and silver. Mrs. Antrim, who suffered from tuberculosis, took in boarders to support the family. (See Tour 1, Site 4) SCHOOL LIFE. Like any kid in town, Billy, then named Henry McCarty, went to school. A classmate, Anthony Conner, remembers him: “He was very slender. He was undersized and was really girlish-looking. I don’t think he weighed over 75 pounds. He had coal black hair and coal black eyes . . . I never remember Billy doing anything out of the way, any more than the rest of us. We had our chores to do, like washing the dishes and other duties about the house. Billy got to be quite a reader. He would scarcely have his dishes washed, until he would be sprawled over somewhere reading a book.” BILLY’S MOTHER DIES. On September 16, 1874, Mrs. Antrim died of consumption (tuberculosis). The local newspaper reported simply “the funeral occurred at the family residence on Main Street at 2:00 on Thursday.” Billy’s mother was buried in town; later moved to the Memory Lane Cemetery off US180, where her grave can be found (See Tour 1, Site 20). Billy got a job waiting tables at the nearby Star Hotel (See Tour 1, Site 5). Sheriff H.H.Whitehill reminisced that the boy’s first “offense was the theft of several pounds of butter from a ranchman . . . which he disposed of to one of the local merchants.” FIRST ARREST. Billy’s boyhood friend, Anthony Conner, ascribed Billy’s new predilection to his reading matter. “Finally he took to reading the Police Gazette and dime novels. One night he robbed a Chinese laundry. I think it was regarded by him as more of a prank than anything else. But Sheriff Harvey Whitehill locked him up for it . . . Mr. Whitehill only wished to scare him.” ESCAPE FROM JAIL. The sheriff ’s account agrees that putting the 15-year-old Billy in jail was meant only to convince the youngster of the perils of crime. The adobe jailhouse stood on the site of today’s Forest Service warehouses on Hudson Street. Billy complained to Whitehill of a lack of exercise, and was allowed once a day in the jail’s corridor. Left alone 30 minutes, the slender Billy promptly climbed out the jail’s chimney and escaped. (See Tour 1, Site 3) Silver City’s reaction was casual. The Grant County Herald commented briefly: “Henry McCarty, who was arrested on Thursday and committed to jail to await the action of the Grand Jury upon charges of stealing clothes from Charley Sun and Sam Chung, celestials, sans cues, sans Joss sticks, escaped from prison yesterday through the chimney. It’s believed that Henry was simply the tool of ‘Sombrero Jack’ who done the stealing while Henry done the hiding. Jack has skinned out.” FIRST KILLING. In Arizona, in 1877, the waifish 17-year-old shot a blacksmith who was bullying him in a bar. A jury found the murder “unjustifiable.” Billy fled back to New Mexico. He was befriended by Tunstall in Lincoln, and was treated as a son for the first time. When Tunstall was killed, Billy became embroiled in the County War, a dispute between two parties battling for economic control of the rich county. Gunfighter and rustler, Billy went on to escape from two more jails, to meet Gov. Lew Wallace (author of “Ben Hur”) and to become something of a popular folk figure. By the age of 21, he could be linked to the deaths of at least 12 men. Finally on July 14, 1881, the young outlaw was killed in a gun battle with Sheriff Pat Garrett. Garrett’s sensational “The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid,” included the tall tale that the 12-year-old Billy knifed his first man in Silver City. Garrett was carried to his grave in a hearse now displayed in the 1898 Hearst Church building in Pinos Altos, currently home to the Grant County Art Guild. (See Tour 2, Site 2). BILLY’S BROTHER AND STEPFATHER. Billy’s brother, Joseph, stayed until in 1884 he was arrested in a fracas; later became a miner and gambler of little fame. Billy’s stepfather, William Antrim, continued as fortune-seeker and served as a mine superintendent in Mogollón. Antrim died in California in the 1920s.
OTHER FAMOUS VISITORS The draw of mining riches, great climate and solitude brought famous names to Silver City: Teddy Roosevelt. In 1913 he stayed at today’s Burro Mountain Homestead; hunted the XSX Ranch. Franklin D. Roosevelt. While Secretary of the Navy, he and Eleanor also visited the Homestead, as friends of the Fergusons. Kit Carson. Scouted for Gen. Kearney, passing by Santa Rita mine in 1846, later as a teamster there. He hauled supplies and hunted for Pinos Altos stores. Butch Cassidy (& the Wild Bunch). “Jim Lowe’s cowhands” at WS Ranch near Glenwood between robberies. George Hearst. George and Phoebe Hearst, parents of William Randolph Hearst, owned a Pinos Altos mine (See Tour 2, Site 1), the Santa Rita copper mine (See Tour 3, Site 19), and a ranch near Deming. Lorenzo Carrasco. Owned early mines and mills in Silver City; (Judge) Roy Bean. Ran a store in Pinos Altos with his brother Sam. (See Tour 2, Site 6) Gen. “Black Jack” Pershing. Assigned to Fort Bayard as 2nd Lieutenant in 1886-87. (See Tour 3, Site 20) Major Gen. Claire Chennault. Later gained fame with the Flying Tigers in China. He crashed a Ft. Bliss (TX) plane on an unauthorized forest fishing trip in the Gila. Gerómino, Nana, Cochise, Chato, Victorio & Natchez. Area Apache leaders roamed the area. Gerómino was born near the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Mangas Coloradas (Red Sleeves). Apache chief was persuaded to surrender in Pinos Altos and then was killed at Ft. McLane in 1863. (See Tour 6, Site 5) Chicago White Stockings (White Sox). Held their spring training at Faywood Hot Springs (near Tour 6, Site 6), when the team was owned by A.J. Spalding (sporting goods). Stewart Granger and wife Jean Simmons. Owned the 7-L-Bar Ranch, part of today’s Ponderosa. William Goodrich (tires), Gus Hilton (hotels) (Conrad’s father) and Mark Twain. Reported visitors at Southern Hotel. Col. José Carrasco and Don Francisco de Elquea were early owners of Santa Rita mine. (See Tour 3, Site 19) Herbert Hoover. Was 1898 asst. manager of mine in Carlisle (near Arizona); Marshall Field (Chicago dept. store) was there too. Astronaut Harrison “Jack” Schmitt. Geologist on Apollo 17 grew up here. Lottie Deno. A well-known gambler at Georgetown and the inspiration for Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke. (See Tour 4, Site 5) Other Names: Bronze medalist George Young, the only American to run in four Olympics; Ralph Kiner, Baseball Hall of Fame (Pirates/Mets); Billy Casper, Professional golfer. SCENIC TOURS – 25
Photo by Debra Sutton
BIRDING DESTINATIONS IN GRANT COUNTY WRITTEN BY JACKIE BLURTON
339 species, approximately 85% of the bird species that can be seen in New Mexico. Over 20 Birding Areas identified. It has been said this area is one of the top birding spots in the nation.
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outhwest New Mexico has a well-deserved reputation for birding. The lush riparian river valleys, scenic mountains and canyons, and the surrounding grasslands of the Gila National Forest attract about 339 species, approximately 85% of the bird species that can be seen in New Mexico. The scenic byways of Grant County offer beautiful vistas and a variety of habitats you can visit in a leisurely day’s drive. A morning can be spent birding along the Gila River looking for warblers and flycatchers. The afternoon can be spent in the cool pines of Cherry Creek looking for tanagers and yes, more warblers. Birding in Grant County has year-around rewards. In winter there are many locations that offer scenery of beautiful rock formations, sandy washes and hidden springs that are a magnet for wintering birds. Spring migrations begin in mid-to-late April with a flow of migrants up the Gila River Valley. Summer offers excellent birding in the cool forested mountains, as well as the river valleys. A small sampling of the species found here include Montezuma Quail, Common Black Hawk, Red-faced Warbler, Lucy’s Warbler, Olive Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Hepatic Tanager, Vermillion Flycatcher, Stellar’s and Pinyon Jays, Bald and Golden Eagles, American Dipper, Nuthatches, Acorn Woodpeckers, and the Juniper and Bridled Titmouse. Hummingbird species include Allen’s, Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Calliope, Blue-throated, Magnificent, and Rufous. Put Grant County and the Gila National Forest on your list of birding destinations. - Jackie Blurton
SOUTHWEST BIRDING TRAIL. Southwest New Mexico was the first area of the state to develop a birding guide. Forty-one sites were selected and include a wide variety of habitats. The official Southwestern New Mexico Birding Trail maps are available through area Chambers of Commerce and United States Forest Service offices, as well as local Audubon chapters. For more information on these birding sites go to: www.oldwestcountry.com and www.tmbyway.com. Follow the Sites.
Photo by LeAnne Knudsen
HIGHLIGHTS
Big Ditch Park
(Broadway Street) A pleasant place to bird while visiting historic downtown Silver City. Site B1 26 – SCENIC TOURS
Lake Roberts (M2224, NM35) High mountain lake, excellent birding for water fowl and mountain species. Site B4
Gila Cliff Dwellings Nat’l. Mon. (M43.7,
NM15) You can bird on the half-mile walk to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Site B5
Fort Bayard Wildlife Refuge. (M120.5,
US180) Trails in the refuge offer pleasant hiking and opportunities to see elk. Site B6
Black Range
(NM152) A beautiful variety of scenery and places to park and bird in the Nat’l. Forest. Site B7
Whitewater Canyon
M50.5, US180) Rock walls of this narrow canyon make this a unique birding excursion. Site B11
Map page 31 We offer this guide as your introduction to some of the best birding locations in Grant County. Travel times are from Silver City. Area maps and SW New Mexico Birding Maps are available at the Murray Ryan Visitor Center at 201 N. Hudson in Silver City. These locations are keyed to the Grant County Recreation Map.
BIRDING IN & NEAR SILVER CITY B1. Big Ditch Park Once the main street of Silver City in the late 1800s, this unique park was created by a series of floods in the early 1900s. It’s a pleasant place to bird in addition to visiting historic downtown Silver City. Location: Silver City Visitor Center. Facilities: Restrooms at Visitor Center. Habitat: Riparian.
B2. Little Walnut Picnic Area This Gila National Forest picnic area north of Silver City has wellsigned trails and offers birding as well as pleasant hiking. Location: North from Silver City on Little Walnut Rd. Travel time one-way: 15 min. Facilities: Toilets, picnic tables. Habitat: Ponderosa pine, piñónjuniper and oak woodlands.
B3. Cherry Creek & McMillen Campgrounds This beautiful canyon offers excellent birding for forest species. The campgrounds are a mile apart and there are signs indicating each entrance. Location: North on NM 15, milepost 11.5 and 12.5. Travel time one-way: 30 min. Facilities: Toilets, picnic tables. Habitat: Riparian/ mixed conifer.
B4. Lake Roberts This beautiful mountain lake offers excellent birding for waterfowl and mountain species. The State Game Commission owns Lake Roberts and a GAIN (Gain Access Into Nature) permit is required. This special permit helps wildlife and is available at Wal-Mart and Doc Campbell’s Post near the Gila Cliff Dwellings. The cost is $9 for a 5day permit or $20 annually. Location: North on NM 15 then right on NM 35 to Lake Roberts. Travel time one-way: 1 hour 15 minutes. Facilities: Toilets, picnic tables. Habitat: Aquatic, ponderosa pine, piñón-juniper and oak woodlands
B5. Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Trail 151 from the Monument provides good access for birding along the West Fork of the Gila River. You can also bird on the half-mile walk to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. The Visitor Center has a great selection of Native American, southwest and nature books. Location: North on NM 15, milepost 46. Travel time one-way: 1 hour 45 minutes. Facilities: Toilets at the Visitor Center, Cliff Dwellings Entry Station, and picnic areas; entry fee for Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument trail. Habitat: Riparian, ponderosa pine, piñón-juniper, and oak woodlands
BIRDING EAST OF SILVER CITY B6. Fort Bayard Wildlife Refuge Historic Ft. Bayard was a frontier cavalry fort in the late 1800s. A National Cemetery is located here. Marked National Recreation Trails in the refuge offer pleasant hiking and opportunities to see elk.
WIFI FREE
Location: East on Hwy 180, turn left at light to Ft. Bayard then follow the signs for forest road 536. The road dead ends in 3 miles at the trailhead but you can pull off at several locations along the way to bird. Travel time one-way: 15 min. Facilities: None Habitat: Riparian, grasslands, piñón-juniper, and oak woodlands.
B7. Black Range The Black Range offers a beautiful variety of scenery and convenient places to park and bird in the National Forest campgrounds along NM 152. These campgrounds are Lower Gallinas, Upper Gallinas, Railroad Canyon, and Iron Creek. Location: East on Hwy 180 then left on NM 152. Travel time one-way: 1 hour. Facilities: Toilets, picnic tables. Habitat: Riparian, mixed conifer.
BIRDING WEST OF SILVER CITY B8. Mangas Springs. This small marsh along Hwy 180 is an oasis in the surrounding arid grasslands. Location: West on Hwy 180 between milepost 96 and 95 on west side of highway. Turn west onto McMillen Road, which parallels Hwy 180 for a half-mile. There’s a small pull off with a trashcan where you can park and walk along the road to bird. The road intersects again with Hwy 180. The sign at this junction says Mangas Springs. Travel time one-way: 20 min. Facilities: None. Habitat: Marsh, cottonwoods and willows.
B9. Gila River Bird Habitat Management Unit The Gila River Bird Habitat on the Gila National Forest is a major migration route.
Location: West on Hwy 180 then left at the Bill Evens Lake turnoff, milepost 87. In about 3.5 miles there is a Y-intersection. Continue straight south onto the gravel road which will take you to the Gila River Bird Habitat. It’s about 5 miles. The gravel road will ascend into the hills away from the river for a few miles and than return to the river at the River Vista parking area. You’ll find excellent birding as you follow the paths through cottonwoods and river willows along the river. Travel time one-way: 1 hour. Facilities: Toilet at each location. Habitat: Aquatic, riparian, and desert foothills.
B10. Gila River Iron Bridge Conservation Area You can bird from the beautiful iron bridge that spans the Gila River. Location: West on Hwy 180 to the Gila River Bridge, milepost 85. After crossing the Gila River take an immediate left onto Iron Bridge Road. Go a short distance farther and park at the boulders. You can see the Iron Bridge from here. Go through the gate in the fence to get to the bridge. Travel time one-way: 45 min. Facilities: None. Habitat: Aquatic, riparian.
B11. Whitewater Canyon The Catwalk National Recreation Trail, made up of metal walkways attached to rock walls with Whitewater Creek frothing below make this a unique birding excursion. Publisher’s Note: New construction on the the metal walkways and trail is scheduled to begin the summer of 2015 due to 2013 floods.
Location: West on Hwy 180 to Glenwood, mile marker 50, then turn right on NM 174. Travel time one-way: 1 hour 15 min. Facilities: Toilets and picnic area Habitat: Riparian
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Photo by Jackie Blurton
Hiking in the Gila
HIKING DESTINATIONS IN GRANT COUNTY WRITTEN BY JACKIE BLURTON
“Mountain peaks will beckon you.”
G
rant County, a land of contrast and diversity, is a splendid place for hiking in all seasons. You don’t have to go far to find a trail to set your feet upon and enjoy one of our great recreational pastimes. A few minutes walk from the road and you’ll be surrounded with solitude and the whisper of pines and aspens. Pool-filled canyons lead you through shady forests and sunfilled meadows. Mountain peaks will beckon you. There are trails that follow the very crest of the Black Range and the Mogollón Mountains and offer spectacular, boundless vistas. Far below, hidden canyons of cliffs and spires where eagles and ravens soar, wind their serpentine way to the far distant plains. If you have a passion to hike the backbone of the continent, the Continental Divide Trail runs right through Grant County. Many sections of trail are new and offer outstanding day hikes. Come hiking in Grant County. You’ll marvel at this unique country. Shear volcanic cliffs tower above river corridors. Pinnacles of rock rise from the mountainsides like dragons teeth. Hidden springs provide a focal point for wildlife and the activities of ancient peoples and frontier miners. Grasslands and piñón/juniper woodlands skirt the mountains. Pine and aspen forests grace the peaks. Blue mountains blend into blue skies on the horizon. You won’t find trailhead parking lots crammed with cars. You will find great beauty, solitude, and wonderful trails. A large portion of the Gila National Forest is in Grant County and has an extensive system of maintained trails. The forest includes the 558,065-acre Gila Wilderness, and the 202,016-acre Aldo Leopold Wilderness.
Signal Peak Trail (M14, NM15) A half-
day, 5-mile roundtrip hike to the Signal Peak lookout tower at 9000 ft. Site H2 28 – SCENIC TOURS
Gila River Middle & West Fork Trails
(M43.7, NM15) Out and back hikes and have numerous river crossings Site H3
Little Dry Creek
(M61.5, US180, Sacaton Rd.) A leisurely 2 mile hike to the Wilderness boundary. Site H9
Mineral Creek
(M46.1, US180, 5 mi. on FR701) A mountain canyon of steep walls and clear water. Tour 5, Site 18
Dragonfly Loop Trail (M20.5,
US180) Part of the Fort Bayard trail system, with pictographs. Site H6
Photo by Debra Sutton
Photo by Jackie Blurton
Photo by Jackie Blurton
Photo by Becky O’Connor
Photo by Jackie Blurton
Photo by Becky O’Connor
HIGHLIGHTS
Gold Dust Trail
(M47.4, US180, 3.9 mi. on NM159) Beautiful hike looks over Whitewater Canyon, home of the Catwalk. Site H11
Map page 31 Here are a few of our favorite day hikes. Travel time to the trailheads is from Silver City. Trail mileage is approximate. Area maps are available at the Murray Ryan Visitor Center. Gila National Forest and Wilderness maps are available at the Gila National Forest Supervisors Office, 3005 E. Camino Del Bosque in Silver City, and at District Ranger Stations.
HIKING NEAR SILVER CITY H1. Little Walnut Picnic Area /Gomez Peak Trail System There are well-signed loop trails.
Location: North of Silver City on Little Walnut Road Travel time one-way: 15 min Facilities: Toilets, picnic area Vegetation: Ponderosa, piñónjuniper
HIKING NORTH OF SILVER CITY H2. Signal Peak Trail #742 This is a nice half-day, 5-mile roundtrip hike to the Signal Peak lookout tower at 9000 ft. Location: North on NM 15, milepost 14; look for the trailhead sign on the right and parking pull-off on the left Travel time one-way: 30 min. Facilities: None Vegetation: Mixed conifer, oak
H3. Gila River, Middle Fork Trail #157 and West Fork Trail #151 Trail #157 begins at the Gila Cliff Dwellings Visitor Center. Trail #151 begins at the entry station to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. These are out and back hikes, so go as far as you want. Both have numerous river crossings and appropriate footwear is recommended. I use fabric and leather boots that I don’t
mind getting wet. Don’t hike these trails when rivers are at flood stage. Location: North on NM 15 at the Gila Cliff Dwellings Monument Travel time one-way: 1 hr 45 min Facilities: Toilets & picnic areas Environment: Riparian, ponderosa
H4. Little Creek Trail #160 Trail #160 climbs a ridge with great views of mountains and canyons. It’s 4.25 miles one-way to Little Creek. You can make a 9-mile loop by hiking #160, #162, EE Canyon Trail #813, and West Fork Trail #151 back to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Location: On NM15, before the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Travel time one-way: 1 hr 45 min. Facilities: Toilet Vegetation: Ponderosa, piñónjuniper
H5. Little Bear Canyon Trail #729 This trail takes you over a ridge and through the beautiful Little Bear Canyon narrows to the Middle Fork of the Gila River. It’s 4.25 miles oneway. Flash floods are possible in Little Bear during rainstorms. Location: North on NM 15, before the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Travel time one-way: 1 hr 45 min. Facilities: Toilet Vegetation: Ponderosa, piñónjuniper
HIKING EAST OF SILVER CITY H6. Fort Bayard Wildlife Refuge The refuge is part of the Gila National Forest and has many trails but few signs. A favorite destination is a 4-mile round-trip hike to the Big Tree, a 600-year-old Alligator Juniper. The trail is marked. Location: East on Hwy 180, left at the light to Fort Bayard. Stay to the right at all the “Y” intersection until you come to Forest Road 536. Go 3 miles on the gravel road to the parking area
at the end of the road. Travel time one-way: 30 min Facilities: None Vegetation: Ponderosa, piñónjuniper
H7. Gallinas Canyon Trail #129 and Railroad Canyon Trail #128 Both trails begin from the same trailhead. At 1.5 miles the trail divides. Trail #129 switchbacks up a slope to the left and goes up Gallinas Canyon 4.5 miles to the crest of the Black Range at 9000 ft. Trail #128 continues up Railroad Canyon 3.5 miles to the crest of the Black Range at 8800 ft. Location: East on NM 152 in the Black Range; look for trailhead sign for #129 on the left. Travel time one-way: 50 min. Facilities: Toilet Vegetation: Mixed conifer
H8. Black Range Crest Trail #79 Crest Trail #79 South from Emory Pass: This is a great hike along the Black Range crest through cool pines and aspens. It’s 4 miles one way to Sawyers Peak at 9640 ft. Crest Trail #79 North from Emery Pass: This trail offers many exceptional vistas. An excellent day hike destination is the 5.5-mile hike to the lookout tower on Hillsboro Peak at 10,011 ft. Location: East on NM 152 in the Black Range at Emory Pass Travel time one-way: 1 hr. Facilities: Toilet Vegetation: Mixed conifer, aspen
HIKING WEST OF SILVER CITY H9. Little Dry Creek Trail #180 It’s 4.5 miles to Windy Gap at 8200 ft up this narrow canyon with a stream and pools.
Location: West on Hwy 180; turn right on Forest Road 147 about 1 mile after the Aldo Leopold Historical Monument; go 3.5 miles, then left on Forest Road 196; it’s about 4 miles to the trailhead. Travel time one-way: 1.5 hr
Facilities: None Vegetation: Mixed conifer, aspen
H10. Holt Apache Trail #181 It’s 5 miles and a 2800 ft elevation gain from the trailhead to Holt Spring at 9200 ft. Location: West on Hwy 180; look for the #181 trail sign on the right side of the road about 4 miles after the Aldo Leopold Historical Monument; it’s 4 miles on Forest Road 146 to the trailhead. Travel time one-way: 1 hr Facilities: None Vegetation: Mixed conifer, aspen
H11. Gold Dust Trail #41 About 2 miles long, covering the same stretch and distance along Whitewater Creek as the Catwalk Trail except it is about 600 ft above the creek and canyon. Location: West on Hwy 180 past Glenwood, then right on NM159 (Bursum Road); go 3.9 miles to a gravel road on the right; go 200 yds to the trailhead. Travel time one-way: 1.5 hr Facilities: None Vegetation: Open, piñónjuniper
HIKING SOUTH OF SILVER CITY H12. Continental Divide Trail This is part of the Continental Divide National Recreation Trail. The trail going north from the parking area climbs up to Jacks Peak at 8000 ft. The trail going south goes through high desert hills and washes. Location: South on Hwy 90 on north side of road between milepost 20 and 21. Travel time one-way: 20 min Facilities: None Vegetation: High desert, piñónjuniper, oak woodlands; conifers on Jacks Peak Contact the U.S. Forest Service for updated road, trail and campground information in these regions of the Gila National Forest. Silver City 575-388-8201; Glenwood 575539-2481; Reserve 575-533-8029.
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Biking in Silver City
BIKING & CYCLING DESTINATIONS IN GRANT COUNTY WRITTEN BY JACKIE BLURTON
Grant Count has some of the best year-around bicycling. Map page 31
ROAD BIKE RIDES
Here are some of our favorite mountain and road rides. Area maps are available at the Murray Ryan Visitor Center, 201 N. Hudson Street in Silver City. More information, bike gear, sales and service are available at the bike shops in Silver City.
Lightly traveled roads make Grant Co. a great place for year-around cycling.
MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDES
R2. NM 15 to Sapillo Creek This is a local favorite. From Silver City to Pinos Altos, about 7 miles, the road is 2-lane with shoulders. North of Pinos Altos the road becomes a narrow 2-way with no lane markings or shoulders. It’s 18 miles from Pinos Altos to the junction with NM 35. There are several good turn-around points if you don’t want to go all the way. The last 3-mile descent into Sapillo Creek is steep with blind hairpin curves.
M1. Burro CDT South This is a new segment of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). Location: South from Silver City on NM 90 between milepost 22 & 21. Turn right onto Forest Road 282. At the end of the road park near the trailhead sign for Jacks Peak. Across the grassy clearing to the south is a cairn and CDT marker at the trailhead. Difficulty: Moderate Travel time to trailhead: 20 min.
M2. Little Walnut Picnic Area/Gomez Peak Trail System A great system of trails that begin at the Little Walnut Picnic Area. Directions to Trailhead: North of Silver City on Little Walnut Rd. Difficulty: Moderate to difficult Travel time to Trailhead: 15 min.
M3. Fort Bayard Wildlife Refuge This is part of the Gila National Forest and has a great system of National Recreation Trails. Directions to trailhead: East from Silver City on Hwy 180, between milepost 118 and 119 turn left onto Arenas Valley Road then go 1 mile to the parking area. Difficulty: Moderate to difficult. Travel time to Trailhead: 15 to 20 min. 30 – SCENIC TOURS
R1. US Highway 180 West (NM Bike Route 18) A light to moderately traveled two-lane road with shoulders. Directions: Ride west from Silver City on Hwy 180 Terrain: Hills and valleys
Directions: Ride north from Silver City on NM 15 Terrain: Winding mountain roads
Mimbres River Valley R3, R4, R5. There are 3 ride options in the Mimbres River Valley. To get to the Mimbres, go east from Silver City on Hwy 180 then turn left onto NM 152. It’s about 20 miles from Silver City to the Mimbres Valley. If you don’t want to ride this section, you can drive to the Mimbres Valley and park in a gravel parking area at the junction of NM 152 and 61 at milepost 15 and ride from there. R3 Upper Mimbres River Valley NM 35 is an easy ride up the valley to the Continental Divide between mile marker 15 and 16. Lake Roberts is 7 miles further. Location: East on Hwy 180, turn left at light to Ft Bayard then fol-
low the signs for forest road 536. The road dead ends in 3 miles at the trailhead but you can pull off at several locations along the way to bird. Directions: Ride north from NM 152 on NM 35 Terrain: River valley R4 Lower Mimbres River Valley NM 61 is an easy ride down the valley. Directions: Ride south from NM 152 on NM 61. It’s 26 miles to Hwy 180 Terrain: River valley
R5. Emory Pass. NM 152 continues east across the valley and climbs 17 miles into the Black Range to 8,000 ft. Emory Pass. The road up to the Gila National Forest boundary is a wide 2-lane then becomes a narrow 2-lane with blind curves and some steep grades. This is for experienced riders. Directions: Ride east on NM 152 Terrain: Winding mountain roads
MOTORCYCLE TOURS IN GRANT CO. Welcome to our scenic byways. Beautiful mountain scenery and good roads make Grant County a great motorcycling destination. Approximate mileages and travel times are from Silver City. Area maps are available at the Silver City Grant County Visitor Center, 201 N Hudson St. in Silver City. MC1. The Gila Cliff Dwellings - Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway Miles: 122 round trip. Travel time one-way: 1 hr 45 min Gas: Silver City, the village of Mimbres, and Lake Roberts General Store on NM 35.
Directions: Follow the Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway by going east from Silver City on Hwy 180 or north on NM 15 MC2. The Catwalk of Whitewater Canyon and Mogollón Peak Trail System Miles: 136 round trip to the Catwalk; 163 round trip to Mogollón Travel time one-way: 1 hr 30 min to the Catwalk; 1 hr 45 min to Mogollón Gas: Silver City, Cliff and Glenwood Directions to the Catwalk: West from Silver City on Hwy. 180; in Glenwood turn right onto NM 174 Directions to Mogollón: If you want to visit the old mining town of Mogollón continue north from Glenwood 3 miles and turn right onto NM 159. It’s 9 miles up a very narrow winding mountain road with blind curves and no guardrails. Mogollón has well preserved buildings from the late 1800s. Terrain: Valleys and winding mountain roads Publisher’s Note: Road construction in the village of Mogollón and beyond to Willow Creek will begin in 2014. Contact the Gila National Forest at 575-388-8201 or Glenwood Ranger Dist., 575-539-2481 for road conditions.
MC3. Emory Pass and Hillsboro Miles: 74 round trip to Emory Pass; 116 round trip to Hillsboro Travel time one-way: 1 hr to Emory Pass; 1 hr 45 min to Hillsboro Gas: Silver City, Hillsboro Directions to Emory Pass: Go east from Silver City on Hwy 180, then turn left onto NM 152 Directions to Hillsboro: From Emory Pass continue down the east side of the Black Range to visit the town of Hillsboro Terrain: Winding mountain roads
SILVER CITY/GRANT COUNTY RECREATION MAP Birding Destinations B1-B11 Hiking Destinations H1-H12 Mountain Biking Destinations M1-M4 Road Cycling Destinations R1-R5 Motorcycling Destinations MC1-MC3
page 27 page 29 page 30 page 30 page 30
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