V I S I T Galleries & Museums

T R A V E L the Trail of the Mountain SpiritsNational Scenic Byway

E X P L O R E the Gila Forest & Wilderness

D E S T I N AT I O N S F O R : Hiking, Bird Watching,Mountain & Road Biking and Motorcycling

www.wnmu.edu/culture

SCENIC TOURS 3

ContentsWELCOME, WILLKOMMEN, ¡BIENVENIDOS

Our CoverA WNMU student isexperiencing outdooradventures in the GilaNational Forest just out-side of Silver City andthe main campus ofWestern New MexicoUniversity. Photo byJay Hemphill.

= Birding Site

SCENIC TOURS is devoted to the Silver City area and its multi-cultural communitieswith Four Gentle Seasons and warm 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!

HISTORIC SILVER CITY AREAScenic ToursGATEWAY TO 3.3 MILLION ACRES OF SOLITUDE

Scenic Tours4 Historic Silver City

Scenic Tour Silver City and its historybeginning in the miningboom era will come to life.

12 Pinos Altos Scenic TourWalk through the 1860s inthis historic mining town.

14 Trail of the MountainSpirits Scenic TourFollow the footsteps of the Mogollón people whowalked the area in the early 1300s.

20 Mining Scenic TourHistoric head frames andmodern open pit operations.

22 Gila High CountryScenic Tour Bill Evans Lake, the GilaRiparian Preserve, Glenwood,Cooney’s Tomb and more.

25 City of Rocks and Southof Silver City Scenic Tour Beautiful carved giants anda visit to museums andghost towns to the south.

Activities26 Birding 28 Hiking 30 Cycling & Biking

Maps

6 Silver City Walking Tour6 Silver City Driving Tour9 Historic Silver City Tour

12 Pinos Altos17 Grant County Area Tours20 Mining24 Recreation. Birding,

Hiking, Biking

left: WNMU students hikeabove the Gila River,where ancient cultureswalked the same riverbanks and grew crops.

The Gila River - Tour 5, Site 9

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4 Historic Silver CityEstablished in 1870, its rich history flows throughtoday’s arts and business districts and is located at thegateway to the 3.3 millionacre Gila National Forest.

16 Gila Cliff DwellingsNational Monument

As you walk through thedwellings of the ancientMogollón Indians imaginewhat life was like 700years ago.

14 Trail of the MountainSpirits NationalScenic Byway

Mimbreño Indians farmedon the river banks, keptdiaries on cliff walls andmade exquisite pottery.

19 Fort Bayard National Historic Site

From Buffalo Soldiers totuberculosis sanatoriumand veteran and geriatriccare—giving service since 1863.

Attractions

Keith LeMay, AuthorResearch and writing except where creditedTerri Menges

President & Managing DirectorJoseph Burgess

Vice President & Photo JournalistArlyn CooleyStaff Accountant

Denise “Gabbie” DavenportRobert “Jaime” RamirezMichael StancadoAdvertising SalesJoseph Burgess

Photography except where notedTerri Menges

Yessica Nograro-BorquezDebra Sutton

DesignersJackie Blurton, Jay Hemphill, KeithLeMay, LeAnne Knudsen, Museum ofNew Mexico, Barry Nielsen, Becky

O’Connor, Debra SuttonContributing Photographers

Jackie Blurton, Joseph Burgess, BeckyO’Connor, Luis Pérez, Dorothy

Watson, Betty WoodsContributing Writers

Scenic Tours is published by ZiaPublishing Corp., P.O. Box 1248, 116McKinney Rd. (deliveries only), Silver City,NM 88062 Phone: 575-388-4444 x19 Fax:575-388-4444 info@ziapublishing.comwww.ziapublishing.com.©Keith LeMay.Reproduction in whole or part withoutpermission of the publisher prohibited.For permission to use any portion of thispublication email: info@ziapublishing.com.All submissions of editorial or photogra-phy are only accepted without risk to thepublisher for loss or damage. Every effortwas made to ensure accuracy in the infor-mation provided. The publisher assumesno responsibility or liability for errors,changes or omissions.

www.silvercity.orgwww.silvercitytourism.org

www.southwestnewmexico.orgwww.ziapublishing.com

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In 1870, a group of American prospectors discovered silver in the hills justabove the ciénega (marshy area), and the rush was on. In ten short months, thenewly christened Silver City grew from a single cabin to over eighty buildings.

HIGHLIGHTS

Billy the Kid CabinSite. (Silver City VisitorCenter) Billy spentpart of his childhoodhere in a cabin similarto this. Site 4

St. Vincent de PaulChurch (Market andBayard St.) begun in1874. Mission-stylefront and towers wereadded in 1908. Site 16

Big Ditch Park.(Broadway St.) The“Big Ditch” was formedduring a series offloods between 1895and 1906. Site 10

Silver City Museum.(312 W. Broadway)The town’s rich anddiverse history is dis-played in the 1881 H.B.Ailman house. Site 12

La Capilla The“LittleChapel” replica of the1885 chapel overlookingSilver City that housed astatue of the Virgin ofGuadalupe. Site 14b

Scenic Tour 1

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Historic Silver City

4 – SCENIC TOURS

WNMU MuseumHouses the largest permanent display ofMimbres pottery in theU.S. including the NANRanch Collection. Site 18a

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.

1. Murray Ryan Visitor Center. (210 N. Hudson St.)2. McComas House Site. (500 N. Hudson) In the

early 1880s Judge H.C. McComas (See Site 9) livedwhere the present post office is located. After thefloods, this area became Silver City’s famous red lightdistrict for 60 years. In the 1930s, the McComas Housewas purchased by Silver City’s most “famous” madam,Millie and then known as “Millie’s.”

3. Billy the Kid Jail Site. (Northeast corner ofBroadway and Hudson, 304 N. Hudson.) The U.S.Forest Service warehouses are on the site of the jail. In1875 Billy, age 15, was held for stealing from a Chineselaundry. He escaped out the chimney. Legend suggestsBilly killed his first man or knifed a Chinaman at severalsites. No evidence can be found. (See page 24.)

4. Billy the Kid Cabin Site. Silver City VisitorCenter. (201 N. Hudson, NM 90.) Billy spent part of hischildhood here, in a cabin similar to this, with his mother,brother, and stepfather. The cabin was torn down by1894 and the floods of 1895-1903 destroyed the origi-nal site. This cabin, similar to cabins of that era, wasdonated by Ron Howard’s 2003 movie The Missing.

5. Star Hotel Site. (Southwest corner of Broadwayand Hudson across the street from Visitors Center.)Billy the Kid waited tables while he lived here with theTruesdell family following the death of his mother.

6. Carrasco Mill Site. (Below Broadway, betweenBullard and Hudson.) Lorenzo Carrasco had one of thefirst ore-grinding mills. His adobe furnaces producedthe first silver bullion in the area, handling ore fromSilver City, Pinos Altos, and other area mines. Turn right(west) onto Broadway to Site 10.OPTIONAL DRIVING TOUR: Sites 7-9 South on NM90to 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 andgrew up in Silver City. He was the 12th and last man towalk on the Moon in 1972. From 1977-1983 he servedas a New Mexico Senator in Washington, DC.

8. Old Tyrone/Phelps Dodge Copper Electro-winning Plant. (MM32, NM 90) Phelps Dodge & Co.consolidated its holdings beginning in 1909. A“Mediterranean-style” company town was ready in 1915.A drop in copper prices caused it to be abandoned vir-tually overnight. From 1928-41 it became a dude ranch.In the late 1960s the operation resumed as an open pitmine. Today, the mine is owned by Freeport-McMoRanand supports a modern electrowinning copper recoveryplant producing plates of .999 copper.

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’sApaches in 1883; their 6-year-old son was kidnappedand taken to Mexico. To the northwest on Jack’s Peak,the Smithsonian Institute operated a solar radiationobservatory until 1938. Reverse your course. Turnaround and travel north on NM90, back to Silver City.

10.Big Ditch Park. (Broadway Street) Originally thetown’s Main Street, the “Big Ditch” was formed during aseries of floods between 1895 and 1906. In 1980 itbecame a city park. (See The Big Ditch, opposite.)

11.Bell Block. (200 block W. Broadway.) Today therestored Bell Block brightens the downtown. Built in1897, expanded in 1906, sheathed in galvanized metalstamped with intricate designs resembling carved stone.

Millions of years ago, fingers of molten rock deposited the copper, silver andgold that would make this one of the Southwest’s richest mineralized areas. EarlyIndians mined turquoise, and by 1804 the Spanish were digging for copper eastof what came to be called the San Vicente Ciénega (today’s Silver City).

SILVER DISCOVERED. In the spring of 1870, the news reached PinosAltos 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 itat home.” They hurried back, and began to dig one half mile west of the presentcourthouse. Ore from the Legal Tender Mine assayed as high as 100 ounces of silverper ton, a real bonanza. News of the “Ciénega Mines” quickly spread.

TOWN OF SILVER CITY ORIGINATED. In ten short months, SilverCity grew from a single cabin to over eighty buildings, and in 1871, it became thecounty seat. During the early years of development, all of southwestern NewMexico was harassed by Apache raids. The nearest railroad terminal was inColorado. The county included what is today’s Deming and Lordsburg all theway to the Mexico border.In spite of the crude methods, Silver City mills were producing $16,000 of bul-

lion 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 andhouses to be built. In 1875, the first fire engine in the NM Territory made it pos-sible for a volunteer fire department to be formed. When the government tele-graph line reached Fort Bayard in 1876, local citizens furnished the materials toconnect Silver City with the outside world.

SCENIC TOURS 5

HISTORIC SILVER CITY TOUR 1

Western New Mexico University - Site 18b

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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 uniqueexhibits and programs that tell the stories, and celebratethe rich and diverse history and cultural heritage of south-western New Mexico. The changing exhibits interpret theevents and cultures that created one of the most intriguingregions in the Southwest.The museum offers a wide variety of programs and

hands-on learning opportunities for the entire family, sothere is always something new and fun to do. Open everyday except Monday, it is located at 312 W. Broadway. TheMuseum Store features excellent southwest books andthe work of New Mexico artists and craftspeople.

13.Grant County Courthouse. (Broadway andCooper) The courthouse was erected in 1930. In thelobby, two murals by Santa Fe artist Theodore VanSoelen depict the area’s ranching and mining history. Atthis point the Tour reverses. Go east back downBroadway and turn right on Bullard Street.

14a.Lower Bullard Street. On the southwest corner ofBullard and Broadway stands a 1923 bank building(designed by southwestern architect Henry Trost) withthe original terracotta front and brick design. Directlyacross, on the north, is the 1882 Meredith & Ailmanbank, with its original cast-iron front. Many of the build-ings date back to the 1880s. The street was named afterJohn Bullard, a founder of Silver City. One year after hisdiscovery of silver in 1870, the 24-year-old Bullard waskilled by Apaches (See Site 20). On the hill to the southoverlooking Silver City is La Capilla Chapel. (Site 14b).

14b.La Capilla Chapel. Originally constructed in 1885,the “Little Chapel” overlooking Silver City was built tohouse a statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe. A replica wasbuilt in 2004. Trails join Boston Hill and Big Ditch trail sys-tems. Reverse and go back (north) on Bullard Street.

14c.Upper Bullard Street. At Market Street to yourright is the entrance to Big Ditch Park (See Site 10) andon the left is The Warren House (See Site 15).

15.O.S. Warren House. (Market Street) Overlookingthe Big Ditch is the 1885 Italianate red brick O.S. Warrenhouse. Once owned by the indefatigable ElizabethWarren, the first woman insurance agent in New Mexico,it’s today’s only survivor of the Main Street floods. FromBullard Street, turn left onto Market Street.

16.Saint Vincent de Paul Church. (Market andBayard, 420 W. Market.) This stuccoed adobe wasbegun in 1874 by the town’s Hispanic community. ItsMission-style front and towers were added in 1908.

SILVER CITY CHARTER. In 1878 Silver City was granted a territorialcharter under which the town operates today, one of the oldest of the few terri-torial charters in the U.S. The city was one of the first to establish a public schooland 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 wasno longer the principal artery. Floodwaters engulfed the streets as “an immensewall of rolling water, 12' high and 300’ across, roared through the heart oftown.” By the next morning, the waters had receded and local residents saw amonstrous ditch 35 feet below the street level. Later floods, especially one in1903, scraped the ditch down to bedrock at 55 feet. The excavation ran about15 miles.

CHANGES CAUSED. Before the floods, commerce was about equal oneither 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 earlierflood runoff. By 1895, livestock growers and wagon freighters had grazed thehigher meadows to bare ground, and wood haulers had stripped forested slopesto 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 inthe 1930s, and juniper and piñón growth. The Big Ditch is now a communitypark with paths and picnicking areas and two foot bridges.

6 SCENIC TOURS www.ziapublishing.com

Walking Bridge Over Big Ditch Park - Site 10, O.S. Warren House - Site 15

SCENIC TOURS 7

Historic Downtown Silver City.

Recognized as one of the nation’s culturallyprogressive small communities, Silver Citybroke into the top three slots of ModernMaturity’s Best Small Towns in America, waslisted by John Villani as one of The HundredBest Small Art Towns in America and cho-sen by the National Trust for HistoricPreservation in its Dozen DistinctiveDestinations. The strong visual and perform-ing arts activities, museums and the renovat-ed historic district have created an end-desti-nation worthy of America’s culture-hungrytravelers.A wide range of galleries and creative spe-

cialty shops are located throughout the uni-versity and historic districts and in themountain village of Pinos Altos. A perform-ing arts season that includes internationaltalent is sponsored by the Mimbres RegionArts Council and the Grant CountyCommunity Concerts Assn. Special eventswith nationally acclaimed participantsinclude the Silver City Blues Festival, Tour ofthe Gila, Wild Wild West Pro Rodeo,Chocolate Fantasia, The Silver City ClayFestival, 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 theWestern New Mexico University Museum,with the world’s largest permanent display ofartifacts from the thousand-year-old MimbresCulture, are the pride of the community.

Celebrating 116 YearsLocated in the downtown

historic dis trict.

• Affordable Rates • 18 Rooms & Suites • Continental Breakfast • Wi-Fi • Cable Flat Screen TV • Special Meeting & Event Room

106 W. Broadway • Silver City, NM 88061575-388-1811

www.silvercitypalacehotel.comVisit Ol West Gallery & Mercantile next door.Reminiscent of a small hotel in the European Tradition.

8 SCENIC TOURS www.ziapublishing.com

Telephones were first installed in 1883. Anelectric light plant was completed the followingyear—only two years after New York City

installed its first electric system.

Directly across from the church, at the SW corner ofMarket and Pinos Altos, is the Queen Anne-style MartinMaher house, built in 1887 of locally-made red brick.Turn right on Black Street, right on Kelly Street and leftonto Bullard Street.Just before reaching Sixth Street, you will pass on your lefttwo older houses: one at 503 Bullard, built in 1887 as adentist’s office, and another at 511 Bullard, the Isaac Cohenhouse built in 1882 and now restored. These buildingswere once part of a Victorian residential area. Turn left ontoSixth Street.

17.Sixth Street. On Sixth Street you will pass a number offine 1880s brick homes. At the northwest corner of Bayardand Sixth Street is the Edmund Stein home, overlooking thesite of New Mexico’s first two-story brick public school-house. At Cooper Street, to the right are 1883 brick rentalhouses. At the northwest corner of Sixth and Black is DavidAbraham’s 1883 home. 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 houseson this block. (See Tour 5, Site 5.) Continue on BlackStreet to College Ave.

OPTIONAL DRIVING TOUR: Sites 18-20. Travel north onCollege Ave. , turn right onto West Street, go oneblock, turn left on 10th Street to upper parking aresfor WNMU Museum (Site 18a) Elevator access.

18a.WNMU Museum. (Two-story Fleming Hall, 538-6386, open daily except University holidays.) The museumhas the largest permanent display of prehistoric Mimbrespottery in the United States including the NAN RanchCollection. These world-famous pots with their painteddesigns date from the 8th to 12th century A.D. CasasGrandes prehistoric Indian pottery, stone tools, ancientjewelry, southwestern historical photos and oral historyrecordings, and military and mining artifacts are on display.

18b.Western New Mexico University. Establishedin 1893, WNMU offers more than 70 fields of study inareas such as accounting, criminal justice, education,nursing and zoology. The campus is home to five build-ings on the national historic registry, a museum featuringMimbres pottery, a contemporary art gallery and the1,000 seat Fine Arts Center Theater. www.wnmu.edu

18c. St. Mary’s Academy. (1800 Alabama Street) The acad-emy opened in 1918 as a “select boarding school for girls.”

19a.Silver City Water Works (est. 1887). (LittleWalnut Road) Provided the City’s first water supply, col-lected from subsurface streams in a tunnel or “collectiongallery.” The tunnel drained to a well and was pumpedfrom there into the building, and then boosted to a reser-voir. The pumps were initially steam powered, first usingwood and then coal. An engineer lived with his family inthe two-story portion, as he had a 24-7 job to keep thepumps running. A stonemason from Michigan construct-ed the building of locally quarried sandstone. TheWaterworks was placed on the National Registry ofHistoric Places in 1984.

20a-c. Billy the Kid’s Mother’s Grave. (M115.7,US180, Memory Lane Cemetery) Catherine McCartyAntrim, Billy’s mother, died of tuberculosis on Sept. 16,1874. She was buried in town but later was moved toMemory Lane Cemetery (left to Cypress Lane, right to 9thtree). Four graves to the north lies John Bullard (See Site14a). (Turn west to Rose Lane and go north to first inter-section to left.) Ben Lilly, mountain man and lion hunter, isburied 50' to the southwest. From Memory Lane, con-tinue north across US180. At next stop sign turn rightonto Pinos Altos Road, NM 15. Or turn right on US180and continue 4 miles to Silver City Visitor Center.

20d. Gila Regional Medical Center. (32nd Street) GilaRegional Medical Center is a county-owned, not-for-prof-it, 68-bed acute care hospital. Gila Regional has a strongcommitment to the people it serves. Investments in tech-nology and certified caregivers provide quality care deliv-ery through a patient-centered approach. It is home to theCancer Center and the Surgical Center of the Southwest.

Big Ditch Park - Site 10

The Southern Pacific Railroad reached Deming in 1881, inspiring local citi-zens to build a branch line to Silver City. Telephones were first installed in1883. An electric light plant was completed the following year—only two yearsafter New York City installed its first electric system.

SILVER CITY BOOM OVER! In 1893 the bottom dropped out of thesilver market. Mines closed down. Silver City paused, caught its breath, and thenmoved ahead. The use of brick was encouraged by an 1880 fire ordinance whichprohibited frame construction, saving Silver City from the destructive fires ofmany western towns. Perhaps its sturdy brick architecture helped it defy a ghosttown’s fate. Maybe it was the populace of Hispanics and Anglos, determined tomake this their home. The cattle industry was well-developed with some largeholdings extending as far south as Mexico. At the turn of the century, Silver City’shigh, dry climate made it a haven for invalids and tubercular patients. One of thestate’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

SCENIC TOURS 9

HISTORIC SILVER CITY TOUR MAP

Fine DininTaste the Difference

years! Celebrating20 Parlor

Today’s Cabin

The draw of mining riches, great climateand solitude brought famous names toSilver City:Teddy Roosevelt. In 1913 he stayed attoday’s Burro Mountain Homestead;hunted the XSX Ranch. Franklin D. Roosevelt. WhileSecretary of the Navy, he and Eleanoralso visited the Homestead, as friendsof the Fergusons.Kit Carson. Scouted for Gen. Kearney,passing by Santa Rita mine in 1846, lateras a teamster there. He hauled suppliesand hunted for Pinos Altos stores.Butch Cassidy (& the Wild Bunch).“Jim Lowe’s cowhands” at WS Ranchnear Glenwood between robberies. George Hearst. George and PhoebeHearst, parents of William RandolphHearst, owned a Pinos Altos mine (SeeTour 2, Site 1), the Santa Rita coppermine (See Tour 3, Site 19), and a ranchnear Deming. Lorenzo Carrasco. Owned early minesand mills in Silver City; (Judge) Roy Bean. Ran a store in PinosAltos with his brother Sam. (See Tour 2,Site 6)Gen. “Black Jack” Pershing. Assignedto Fort Bayard as 2nd Lieutenant in1886-87. (See Tour 3, Site 20)Major Gen. Claire Chennault. Latergained fame with the Flying Tigers inChina. He crashed a Ft. Bliss (TX) planeon an unauthorized forest fishing trip inthe Gila.Gerómino, Nana, Cochise, Chato,Victorio & Natchez. Area Apacheleaders roamed the area. Gerómino wasborn near the Gila Cliff Dwellings.Mangas Coloradas (Red Sleeves).Apache chief was persuaded to sur-render in Pinos Altos and then waskilled at Ft. McLane in 1863. (SeeTour 6, Site 5)Chicago White Stockings(White Sox). Held their springtraining at Faywood Hot Springs(near Tour 6, Site 6), when theteam was owned by A.J.Spalding (sporting goods).Stewart Granger and wifeJean Simmons. Owned the7-L-Bar Ranch, part oftoday’s Ponderosa.William Goodrich (tires),Gus Hilton (hotels,Conrad’s father) and MarkTwain. Reported visitors atSouthern Hotel.Col. José Carrasco and DonFrancisco de Elquea wereearly owners of Santa Rita mine.(See Tour 3, Site 19)Herbert Hoover. Was 1898 asst.manager of mine in Carlisle (nearArizona); 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 atGeorgetown and the inspiration for MissKitty on Gunsmoke. (See Tour 4, Site 5)Other Names: Bronze medalist GeorgeYoung, the only American to run in fourOlympics; Ralph Kiner, Baseball Hall ofFame (Pirates/Mets); Billy Casper,Professional golfer.

OTHERFamousVISITORS

BILLY’S ROOTS. The myth that Billy the Kid killed hisfirst man in Silver City is just that—one of many legends sur-rounding this young gunslinger’s career. Possibly the most writ-ten-about western figure, little is actually known about Billy theKid’s early childhood. He was probably born around 1859 in

New York City. In 1873 he was a witness at the marriageof his mother, Catherine McCarty, to WilliamAntrim in Santa Fe. Like many New Mexicans,Antrim was a jack-of-all-trades with a burning desireto strike it rich. So within months of acquiring a wifeand two sons, Billy’s stepfather moved his family to the southwest’s newest and richest min-ing district—Silver City.

MEMORIES OF BILLY. Today in Silver City, Billy’s memory lives in familystories handed down and in our imaginations. In a 1902 interview, SheriffWhitehill summed up his memories of the Kid:“There was one peculiar characteristic that to an experienced man-hunterwould have marked him immediately as a bad man,” the sheriff remarked withplacid hindsight, “and that was his dancing eyes. They never were at rest, butcontinually shifted and roved much like his own rebellious nature.”

BOYHOOD HOME. In the rough mining boom town, WilliamAntrim 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 livedwas eventually torn down in 1894. By many accounts, Antrim was a negligentfather, away long periods of time on the perennial quest for gold and silver.Mrs. Antrim, who suffered from tuberculosis, took in boarders to support thefamily. (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 restof us. We had our chores to do, like washing the dishes and other duties aboutthe house. Billy got to be quite a reader. He would scarcely have his disheswashed, until he would be sprawled over somewhere reading a book.”

BILLY’S MOTHER DIES. On September 16, 1874, Mrs. Antrim diedof consumption (tuberculosis). The local newspaper reported simply “thefuneral 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 Cemeteryoff US180, where her grave can be found (See Tour 1, Site 20).

above: Today’s Cabin. The cabin on the site was designed after an 1870’s cabin, the erawhen Billy lived in Silver City. The cabin was donated by producer-director Ron Howardand used in his 2003 movie, “The Missing”.

Billy the Kid10 SCENIC TOURS www.ziapublishing.com

Billy the Kid

Boyhood Home of Billy the Kid

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Billy the Kid Cabin - Tour 1, Site 4

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Billy got a job waiting tables at the nearby StarHotel (See Tour 1, Site ). Sheriff H.H.Whitehillreminisced that the boy’s first “offense was thetheft of several pounds of butter from a ranch-man . . . which he disposed of to one of the localmerchants.”FIRST ARREST. Billy’s boyhood friend,Anthony Conner, ascribed Billy’s new predilec-tion to his reading matter. “Finally he took toreading the Police Gazette and dime novels. Onenight he robbed a Chinese laundry. I think it wasregarded by him as more of a prank than any-thing else. But Sheriff Harvey Whitehill lockedhim up for it... Mr. Whitehill only wished toscare him.”ESCAPE FROM JAIL. The sheriff’saccount agrees that putting the 15-year-old Billyin jail was meant only to convince the youngsterof the perils of crime. The adobe jailhouse stood on the site of

today’s Forest Service warehouses on HudsonStreet. Billy complained to Whitehill of a lack ofexercise, and was allowed once a day in the jail’scorridor. Left alone 30 minutes, the slender Billypromptly climbed out the jail’s chimney andescaped. (See Tour 1, Site 3)Silver City’s reaction was casual. The rant

County Herald commented briefly: “HenryMcCarty, who was arrested on Thursday andcommitted to jail to await the action of theGrand Jury upon charges of stealing clothes fromCharley Sun and Sam Chung, celestials, sanscues, sans Joss sticks, escaped from prison yester-day through the chimney. It’s believed thatHenry was simply the tool of SSombrero Jack’who done the stealing while Henry done the hid-ing. Jack has skinned out.”FIRST KILLING. In Arizona, in 1877, thewaifish 17-year-old shot a blacksmith who wasbullying him in a bar. A jury found the murder“unjustifiable.” Billy fled back to New Mexico.He was befriended by Tunstall in Lincoln, andwas treated as a son for the first time. WhenTunstall was killed, Billy became embroiled inthe County War, a dispute between two partiesbattling for economic control of the rich county.Gunfighter and rustler, Billy went on to escapefrom two more jails, to meet Gov. Lew Wallace(author of “Ben Hur”) and to become somethingof a popular folk figure. By the age of 21, hecould be linked to the deaths of at least 12 men.Finally on July 14, 1881, the young outlaw waskilled 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 nowdisplayed in the 1898 Hearst Church building inPinos Altos, currently home to the GrantCounty Art Guild. (See Tour 2, Site 2).BILLY’S BROTHER AND STEP-FATHER. Billy’s brother, Joseph, stayed untilin 1884 he was arrested in a fracas; later became aminer and gambler of little fame. Billy’s stepfather,William Antrim, continued as fortune-seeker andserved as a mine superintendent in Mogollón.Antrim died in California in the 1920s.

12 SCENIC TOURS www.ziapublishing.com

Pinos Altos Scenic Tour (M6, NM15):The old mining town. Where the roaddivides, keep to the left. At the first intersec-tion over the bridge, turn left onto the dirtroad, which loops back to the right.

1. Hearst Mine. (M5.1, NM15) ThePhoebe Hearst (mother of newspaper-man William Randolph Hearst) Mine wasnear the saddle of the two peaks to thewest from this historic marker. TheHearsts had interests in ranches, head-quartering west of Deming, briefly ownedthe Santa Rita copper mine and companystore, as well as a company store in PinosAltos, and a mill, probably south of theGila Regional Hospital. A winding narrow-gauge railroad transported ore from PinosAltos mines to mills in Silver City.

2. Hearst Church. The adobe Methodist-Episcopal church was built with Hearstmoney in 1898 and now houses theGrant County Art Guild. A funeral hearse,used for Pat Garrett, and other horse-drawn vehicles are displayed here. Garrettkilled Billy the Kid in Lincoln, NM. Continue back to paved road, turn left.

3. Fort Cobre. This 3⁄4-scale reconstruc-tion, completed in 1980, was of a fortbuilt at Santa Rita copper mine in 1804 toprotect the area. It was renamed Ft.Webster in 1851 (See Tour 3, Site 17).The Hearst company store was eastacross the street.

4. Opera House. The opera house, builtin 1969, captures the flavor of an old westopera house with elements from area his-toric buildings, including the late red-lightdistrict of Silver City (See Tour 1, Site 2).There are excellent artifacts and photos inthe Buckhorn Saloon (circa 1865).

5. McDonald Cabin. On dirt road directlybehind Opera House. John McDonald, an oldIndian fighter, was reportedly in this area in1851. Probably the oldest house in the county.

6. Judge Roy Bean Store Site. SE cor-ner south of Site 4. Probable site of thestore operated by (Judge) Roy Bean andhis brother Samuel in the 1860s.

7. Pinos Altos Museum. The museum ishoused in a log cabin, Grant County’s firstprivate school house, probably builtaround 1866. Go north to first arroyo.

8. First Courthouse. (past arroyo on R)Building housed the only court session inPinos Altos (1871). Continue to stop sign, and turn left. Trail of theMountain Spirits Byway continues north toGila Cliff Dwellings.

9. Cemetery.(Second gate from N, pro-ceed 50' to east at base of 2 large treestumps.) Early miners in Pinos Altos, Capt.Thomas Mastin (Marston on grave) andhis brother Virgil were killed by Apaches.Return on NM15.Viewpoint at MM 2.1.

PINOS ALTOS TOUR 2

MINERS. 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 forsupplies, the men met the Mastin brothers and a man named Langston to whom they con-fided 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 toChihuahua in 1837, but that camp disappeared.

HIGHLIGHTS

Fort Cobre. This 3/4scale reconstruction,was of a fort built atSanta Rita coppermine in 1804 to pro-tect the area. Site 3

McDonald Cabin.John McDonald, anold Indian fighter, wasreportedly in this areaand lived here in1851. Site 5

Pinos Altos Museum.Housed in a log cabin,Grant County’s first private school house,probably built around1866. Site 7

Hearst Church. Homeof the Grant County ArtGuild, captures the fla-vor of the mining erawith elements from areahistoric buildings. Site 2

Scenic Tour 2

MINERS. Some of the fifif rst to use “arrastras” (burro operated mills to grind the gold ore)

In 1859, a group of Forty-Niners drifting home fromCalifornia discovered gold in the Pinos Altos (“Tall Pines”)area. Once a booming county seat, Pinos Altos was a roughand tumble town of gold bonanzas and Apache raids.

In 1859, a group of Forty-Niners driftftf ing home frfrf omlif i di d ld i h Pi Al (“T ll Pi ”)

Pinos Altos

The Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House - Site 4

SCENIC TOURS 13

APACHE INDIANS. Cochise joinedthe Warm Spring Apaches under MangasColoradas to drive out “Los Godammies,”or white men. On September 22, 1861,400 Apaches attacked the camp. Capt.Thomas Mastin, nine other ArizonaScouts and the miners stood in defense.The Indians withdrew after fatally wound-ing Captain Mastin (See Site ). In time,Mangas Coloradas urged peace and failed,was taken prisoner on January 17, 1863,and killed the following day at FortMcLane (See Tour , Site ). Raids and theCivil War caused Americans to leave butthe Mexicans remained to wash gold andbuild arrastras.In July 1866, Virgil Mastin brought in a

15-stamp mill and a saw mill hauled fromSt. Louis by oxen. The California Columnwas disbanded in New Mexico and manystayed. Placering resumed and lode min-ing started. The camp was again known asPinos Altos.

MINING & COMMERCE. In1868, Ancheta had both a trading postand an arrastra; Samuel G. and (Judge)Roy Bean were dealers in merchandise andliquors; the Pinos Altos Co. was incorpo-rated and had 600–700 inhabitants, twostamp mills, many arrastras, three furnacesfor smelting, two hotels, several stores, andseven saloons (which later increased). —rom The Pinos ltos Story by orothy Watson

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HIGHLIGHTS

Lake Roberts.(M22-24, NM35) Setaside by Congress in1924 as the firstwilderness area inthe US. Site 14

Gila Cliff DwellingsNational Monument(M43.7, NM15) Built inthe 13th century, 42rooms within 5 naturalcaves. Site 12

Continental Divide.(M15.1, NM15) The3,100 mile ContinentalDivide Trail runsbetween Mexico andCanada. Site 15

Fort Bayard NationalHistoric Landmark.(M120.5, US180) Builtin 1866 by the “BuffaloSoldiers” of the NinthCalvary. Site 20

Scenic Tour 3

14 SCENIC TOURS www.ziapublishing.com

The name reflflf ects those who have walked this way through the ages and a sensef th flflf d f th t t ki thi f ll

Trail of the Mountain SpiritsNATIONAL SCENIC BY-WAY

Gila River. (M37.8,NM15)The river flowsthrough the Gila Nat’l.Forrest and con-tributes to the area’sscenic beauty. Site 9

Gerómino Monument.(M42.4, NM15) Apacheleader Gerónimo wasborn at the headwatersof the Gila River in 1829.Site 11a

Photo by Jackie Blurton

SCENIC TOURS 15

The Trail of the Mountain Spirits NationalScenic By-Way Tour: This tour starts at SilverCity and goes through Pinos Altos on NM 15,1.5 to 2 hours to the highlight of the tour: theGila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Youthen backtrack to NM35 and turn left to LakeRoberts. Follow NM35 along the MimbresRiver to NM152. Turn west to the Chino Mineoverlook at Santa Rita. Here also is an oppor-tunity to tour some of the old mines in thisarea. Return to Silver City via US 180 and his-toric Ft. Bayard.TRAVEL NOTE: This brochure uses highway milepostmarkers for locating many sites. (e.g., M127.4 US180means 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 goldin the area. (See Tour 2, Pinos Altos.)From Pinos Altos, continue on NM15. Note excel-lent viewpoints.

3. Bear Creek. (M7.4-M10, NM15) Site ofgold mining in the early days. Here are the first evi-dences 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 areentering ponderosa pine country of the Gila (pro-nounced ‘HEE-la’) Forest. Almost one-fourth of the3.3 million acre forest is in wilderness, promoted byconservationist Aldo Leopold; set aside by Congressin 1924 as the first such wilderness area in the USA.Some 400 miles of fishing streams lace the entireforest. Wildlife in the Gila includes Rocky Mountainmule deer, Sonoran white-tail deer, beaver, elk, bob-cat, mountain lion, black bear.

6. Ben Lilly Park. (M10.1, NM15). This forest overlookhonors the mountain man and lion-hunter Ben Lilly. Aplaque 150 feet west details Lilly’s life and philosophy.Continuing on NM15, you will pass the entrance toCherry Creek campground (M12.2) andMcMillan Camp-ground (M13.2).

7. Signal Peak.(M14.4, NM15) A winding 7 mile,high clearance dirt road takes you past ponderosapine, spruce, fir and oak to the top of the peak. Fromhere you can see into Mexico. Signal Peak served asa heliograph point during the Apache wars, signalingwith a mirror and the sun’s rays to distant peaks.Viewpoint (M18, NM15)

8. Anderson (Copperas) Vista. (M32, NM15)This outstanding viewpoint shows the headwatersof the Gila River rimmed on the west by theMogollón Mountains, on the north by isolated peaksand divides, on the east by the Black Range, and onthe south by the Pinos Altos Range. There are manyother excellent viewpoints on NM15.

9. Gila River. (M37.8, NM15). Gila River flows westto Yuma, AZ.

10. Gila Hot Springs. (M39.2, NM15) Numeroushot springs in this area heat the homes and green-houses of residents. Just before Gila Hot Springs isthe Grapevine Campground, boasting the world’slargest grapevine. At M43.7 the Heart Bar WildlifeArea was once a ranch’s training ground for poloponies; the ranch is now operated by Game andFish for elk and mountain lion studies. (M41.8)

11. Visitors Center for Gila Cliff Dwellings.(M42.4, NM15) Pass the road to the NationalMonument, continue to the Visitors Center. With dis-plays and artifacts, the Center introduces you to theculture of the Mogollón Indians, who built homes in

THE TRAIL OF THE MOUNTAIN SPIRITS NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYfollows 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 throughthe first wilderness set aside by Congress. As you step out of your vehicle at oneof the many mountain vistas, you’ll sense the feelings of Aldo Leopold and ofTeddy Roosevelt as they trekked the area... and then fought hard to set the areaaside 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 rec-ognized both as a National Forest Scenic Byway and as a New Mexico ScenicByway. In February 2000, the name was changed to reflect the unanimous nameselection "Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway". The name reflects thosewho have walked this way through the ages and a sense of the flora and faunathat capture you… making this a mecca for all ages.

TMS BY-WAY TOUR 3

The Gila National Forest - Site 5

Photo courtesy W

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16 – SCENIC TOURS

THE GILA CLIFF DWELLINGS NATIONAL MONUMENT is in the Gila National Forest and lies at the edge of theGila Wilderness, the nation's first designated wilderness area. Almost one fourth of the 3.3 million-acre forest is a wilder-ness. Wilderness means the character of the area will not be altered by the intrusion of roads or other evidence of humanpresence. This unique area reveals the homes of prehistoric Indians in southwestern New Mexico and offers a glimpse intothe 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 cul-

ture 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 apeople 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 roomswere 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 withother Mogollón communities. They hunted and gathered wild plants and fruit to supplement their crops of squash, cornand 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 andeyes 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 dwellershad 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.

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument - Site 12

Gila Cliff DwellingsNATIONAL MONUMENT

Step back in time and imagine the lives of the people of theMogollón culture who occupied the caves from the 1280s

through the early 1300s.

SCENIC TOURS 17

GRANT COUNTY AREA TOUR MAP

CISSY MCANDREWEcoBroker® & GREEN, REALTOR®

575-538-1337CissyMcAndrew@gmail.comwww.SilverCityTour.com

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Pat.Bearup@hotmail.comwww.MimbresRealty.com

GEORGIA BEARUPQualifying Broker/Owner, REALTOR®

575-388-8556GeorgiaBearup17@msn.comwww.MimbresRealty.com

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www.MimbresRealty.com

Property Management | 575-313-3208

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18 SCENIC TOURS www.ziapublishing.com

The earliest ruin found within the monument area is a pithouse of a type thatwas made from about 100 to 400 A.D. This dwelling was in the open, was circu-lar, and had a narrow 2' x 10' entrance on the east side; the floor was belowground level. Later pithouses of the Mogollón, prevalent until about 1000 A.D.,were usually constructed of masonry or adobe (sun-dried bricks of mud andstraw), rectangular, and built entirely above the ground. For more information,contact the Gila Cliff Dwellings Visitors Center at 575-536-9461.

– National Park ServiceFrom 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. By400 A.D., the gentle Mogollón culture inhabited these vast pine forests. Latercame the more warlike Apaches; in their turn, they saw the march of Spanish sol-diers and Mexican settlements; and finally came the fur-trappers, miners andranchers. This makes up a heritage of which we're very proud, hence the nameTrail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway.The scenic byway meanders through the Mimbres River Valley, which served as

the lifeline for the ancient Mimbres culture. The artistic and peaceful MimbresIndians left the valley suddenly and mysteriously around 1300 A.D. Now, hints ofintimate little pueblos lie buried, and one wonders about the figures on the over-hanging cliff walls and tries to understand their meaning. The legacy of theirabandoned villages and artwork can be found throughout the area, mixed withrelics of Spanish explorers in the late 1700s and Apache camps.

THE APACHES, called the Tchi-he-nde or Red Paint people, moved southto camp and continued the tradition of farming. Spaniards from Mexico andSpain came to work the mines and made slaves of the Apaches who rebelled. For80 years, Apache raids, peace treaties, and broken promises made the Mimbrescountry a place of massacres, expansion, and abandonment; the Mexican War,the Gadsden Purchase, Overland Mail, tiny forts, stage stations and the stagecrossing of the Mimbres at Mowry City. By the 1860s and 70s, Anglo andHispanic settlers were drawn to the fertile soil. Small-scale mining and sawmillingcontinues in the upper Mimbres. Local farm produce is also marketed.

THE MIMBRES AREA is one of sun and tranquility. Along the cotton-wood-lined banks of the Mimbres, farms and orchards hug together to drink thecold, 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 elkstill run nearly as unmolested as they did in Mowry days.

— by Betty WoodsOne 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 potterythey produced, with its finely-painted geometric and naturalistic designs, is world-famous today. You travel in the footsteps of the pre-historic Mimbres Indians asthey fish the streams, cultivate primitive cornand are surrounded by the laughter ofchildren playing in the canyons. Youhear the quiet voice of the trappertraveling in territory into whichwhite settlers have never ventured.You sense the quietness of thepeaceful headwaters of the Gilainto which the famous Apacheleader Gerómino was born. Sensesome of their pride in this region.Hear the voices of the BuffaloSoldiers as their patrols venture deeperinto the wilderness trying to maintainpeace. Walk the paths of the earlyminer trying to find the mother lodeup the next canyon.

Mimbres pottery is the Wedgewood ofSouthwest ware for its remarkable geometricand life form designs that make it distinctiveabove all prehistoric ceramics.

Photo by LeAnne Knudsen

the cliffs of this area. Near the Center are the remainsof a 2.5-acre pueblo, with a pithouse dated at 600A.D. Get info on hiking and horseback riding. Viewplaque honoring birthplace of Gerónimo.

11a.Gerónimo Monument. (M42.4, NM15) A monu-ment dedicated to famous Chirichahua Apache leaderGerónimo, who was born at the headwaters of theGila River in 1829 is located at the Gila Cliff DwellingsNational Monument Visitor Center.

From the Visitors Center, return to the pavedNational Monument road.

12.Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.(M43.7, NM15) Built late in the 13th century, there are42 well-preserved rooms within 5 natural caves. Seetext on this page. Return on NM15, turn left (east) on NM35.

13.Vista Ruin. (M24, NM 35) This small Mimbres Indiansite overlooks Lake Roberts and has a self-guidedinterpretive trail, covered picnic tables, toilet facilitiesand a beautiful view of Lake Roberts.

14. Lake Roberts. (M22-24, NM35) This man-made72-acre lake offers fine fishing, boating, and camping.This is a fee use area. A fishing license or New MexicoGame and Fish GAIN permit is required. There are twocampgrounds and numerous trails leading into the for-est. Special nature trail and self-interpretive MimbresIndian site are there.

15. Continental Divide. Travel south to M15.1. At thismarker you are crossing the Continental Divide. Aheadthe Mimbres River flows east to the Atlantic; behind youSapillo Creek flows west to the Gila River and the Pacific.

16.Mimbres Valley. (M1-15, NM35) Scenic route fol-lows the course of the Mimbres River through greenorchards and small farms.

17. Fort Webster #2 Site. (NE at intersection ofNM61/152) Second location for fort established atSanta Rita to protect the miners from Apache attack(See Tour 2, Site 3).Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway turns weston NM152, an extension loop continues south.Gerómino Trail Scenic Byway continues to the east.

18.Kneeling Nun. (M12 & M2.4, NM152). Note the dis-tinct rock outcropping to the west on the north end ofthe mountain (Santa Rita open pit at its base). Legendsays this spire was once a nun in love with a Spanishsoldier and turned to stone as she knelt to pray. Alsoview at M2.3, NM152.

19.Santa Rita/Chino Mines Open Pit CopperMine. (M5.8, NM152). John Sully, at the request ofG.E. Co. in 1904, studied the property for possibleoperation as an open pit mine. But G.E. lost interest.Sully persevered, and received financial backing in1909, starting Chino Copper Company, and built anew mill at Hurley (9 mi. away). Kennecott bought themine in the 1930s, built a smelter in 1939, added a firerefinery in 1942, a reduction mill in 1983, and a newsmelter in 1984. Mitsubishi bought 30% in the early1980s. Phelps Dodge bought the remaining 70% later.Freeport-McMoRan purchased the mine in 2007 andthe smelter was dismantled in 2007.Return west on NM 152. At the railroad crossing youmight wish to tour some of the old mines to the northand south, primarily lead, zinc, and copper. (See MiningTour 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 wasbuilt in 1866 by the “Buffalo Soldiers” of the NinthCalvary, an all-black regiment. Statue of Cpl. Greaves,Medal of Honoree, who single-handedly saved histroopers. 2nd Lt. John J. “Black Jack” Pershing servedhere in 1886-87. From 1899 to 1920, the fort servedas an Army tuberculosis sanitarium and later as a vet-eran’s hospital. Today it is run by the state for the careof elderly and handicapped patients. The Fort bordersa state elk refuge and these majestic animals can occa-sionally be seen nibbling on tender shoots of yucca. Anature trail is available for the handicapped. Ft. Bayardhas one of two national cemeteries in New Mexico.To return to Silver City go west on US180.

SCENIC TOURS – 19

Fort BayardNATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK

Fort Bayard served as U.S. Army post during Indian Wars 1866-1899 and as an Army Sanatoriumfrom 1899-1920. Today it provides geriatric and veterans

care and substance abuse treatment.

Once home to the Mimbres and "Red Paint" Chiricahua Apaches, irregular cavalry troops pro-tecting 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 postwas name Fort Bayard in honor of Gen. Bayard who had served in the Territory before beingkilled 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), andWill 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 whenGerónimo 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 firstU.S. Army tuberculosis sanatorium, with Major D.D.M. Bushnell in charge. R.N. Kinney, laterdirector 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 rehabilitat-

ed. German POWs were housed. In 1965under the State of New Mexico it was madea long-term health care center. The 1866cemetery was named a National Cemeteryin 1976.Fort Bayard was designated a New

Mexico Historic District in 2001 and aNational Historic Landmark in 2004.

Fort Bayard, built by “Buffalo Soldiers” in 1866 -Tour 3, Site 20

Fort Bayard National Cemetery - Tour 3, Site 20

Mangas Coloradas, “Red Sleeves,” chief of theApache nation, sent arrows tipped with copper flyinginto camps as his “calling cards.” Kit Carson wrote ofstoring a load of furs in an old mine at Santa Rita.

20 SCENIC TOURS www.ziapublishing.com

Mangas Coloradas, “Red Sleeves,” chief of the

Mining

Kneeling Nun (M2.3,NM152) Legend, once anun in love with a Spanishsoldier, turned to stone asshe knelt to pray. Site 1

Mining Equipment.(M6,NM) Hauling truckoperating at SantaRita/Chino Open PitCopper Mine. Site 4

Vanadium.(US180,NM356, 2.6 mi. right)ASARCO’s Ground Hoglead-zinc mine and milluntil late 1970s. Site 13

Tyrone Overlook.(M32, NM90)Viewextensive mine recla-mation of barren rockdumps. Site 14

CHINO MINES. The oldest active mine in the southwest, the “Santa Rita delCobre”, was worked as early as 1800 by Col. José Manuel Carrasco. Convict labor fromNew Spain mined the shafts, with mule trains of ore sent down the Janos Trail toChihuahua, Mexico. Under the ownership of Don Francisco de Elguea, an impressiveadobe fort (See replica Tour 2, Site 3) was built near the mine, along with smelters andnumerous buildings. Though profitable, the mine eventually had to be abandoned to theApaches. In 1851, the old fort served as a ready-made base for the U.S.-Mexican BoundarySurvey; a year later it became the site of Ft. Webster (See Tour 3, Site 17), the area’s firstU.S. military establishment.In 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 nowoperated by Freeport-McMoRan. Giant-sized machines scoop the ore from the earth andhuge 200-ton ore trucks transport it to the reduction mill to the southwest of the pit. TheChino Overlook provides an excellent viewpoint. — from ChinoSANTA RITA. In 1803 Franscisco Manuel Elguea, a Chihuahua banker and busi-nessman, founded the town of Santa Rita. He named it Santa Rita del Cobre.Famous residents include Ralph Kiner, National Baseball Hall of Fame; HarrisonSchmidt, Apollo 17 astronaut; and William Harrell Nellis, for whom Nellis Air ForceBase was named.

HIGHLIGHTS

Scenic Tour 4

Photo courtesy Freeport

McMoRan

Santa Rita/Chino Open Pit Copper Mine - Site 4

1. Kneeling Nun(M2.3, NM152)(See Tour 3, Site18).

2.Mathis Lime(M3.2, NM152)Lime for copperrecovery.

3. Kearney Mine(M5.7, NM152 on the left) The headframe and dumpon the hill to your left was a zinc mine operated byPeru Mining or its successor until 1974.

4. Santa Rita/Chino Open Pit Copper Mine (M6,NM152) See details in Tour 5-10. Mine and concentra-tor in distance to right, operated by Freeport-McMoRan, produce a copper concentrate for eventu-al treatment in a smelter. (See Site 14). Copper sul-fate from a leaching operation is currently processedthrough a solvent extraction/electrowinning plant (toeast) resulting in plates of .999 copper.

5. Georgetown Site and Cemetery (M6.9, NM152)Georgetown, once called the treasure vault of NewMexico, was a silver-mining boomtown that prospereduntil 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. toNM356 (Fierro Rd.), CHECK MILEAGE, and turn north).

6. Empire Zinc Mine and Mill (0.3 mi. on FierroRd.) Empire Zinc was operated by New Jersey Zincuntil 1970.

7. Republic Mine (1.6 mi.). Iron mine workings on left(also NE).

8. St. Anthony’s Church (2.8 mi.) Old church withsuperb view of the Mine and Mill (See Site 9) fromparking lot. Stone religious grotto.

9. Cobre Mining Mine and Mill (Seen from Site 8)Sharon Steel operated this mill, open pit, and under-ground 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 Princessmine operated through the 1960s.

11.Combination Mine (NM356, 0.5 mi. on right). Theremains of an old ASARCO lead-zinc mine; reclaimedin 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 GroundHog lead-zinc mine and mill until late 1970s. Go south2.5 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 andthe recovered copper sulfate solution is processedthrough a solvent extraction/electrowinning plant,giving .999 copper. Return through Silver City, northon 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 parking for this site.

17.Legal Tender Mine (Directly west, behind theCounty Court-house.) City’s original silver mine.

18.Mineral Museum (2 blocks north on Little WalnutRd.) Mineral displays at Royal Scepter for those inter-ested in the history and beauty of rock specimens.

This tour gives a good feel for the extentmining has influenced history in this area.Take US180 east & NM152. Highway milepostmarkers 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.

Map page 2

MINING TOUR 4

SCENIC TOURS 21

APACHE MINERS. Indians harvestedthe copper that “grew from the ground infernlike pieces.” Mangas Coloradas or “RedSleeves,” chief of the Apache nation, sentarrows tipped with copper flying into campsas his “calling cards.” This was after Indianswere slain in 1837 by a howitzer concealed inthe brush. The Indians cut off all supplies,remnants of the camp fled south; Santa Ritaremained a ghost town until 1858.SPANISH MINERS. The Santa Ritadel Cobre Mine was old when the CaliforniaGold Rush began. Lt. Col. José Carrascoignored orders to destroy the Apache. Instead,he did a favor for the Indians who showedhim native copper and where to find more.About 1800, Carrasco and a party of 24arrived in Santa Rita and opened the secondoldest copper mine in the U.S. (only LakeSuperior’s deposits were known earlier).AMERICAN MINERS. Trappersseeking beaver learned about the mine. KitCarson wrote of storing a load of furs in anold mine. Sylvester Pattie decided to buy it,but left when a trusted employee abscondedwith $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 coppermines, including one known as the “Chino”(“Chinaman”), but Gerónimo continued towar against the whites. While Gerónimo washeld captive (1877–1882), J. Parker Whitneybought out the Santa Rita. Richer veins playedout. At that time, no one knew the low-gradesulphide rock would become the foundation ofone of state’s greatest industries.

TYRONE. Operations started in 1909when Phelps Dodge Corp. bought severalclaims, the first of 300 they would own by1916. Mrs. James Douglas and Mrs. Dodgeengaged Bertram Goodhue, later of SanDiego Exposition fame, who designedSpanish-type office buildings and homes—excluding outdoor plumbing, saloons, andbrothels. When mines closed nationwide in1921, Tyrone became the “most beautifulghost town in the west” and served for a timeas a dude ranch. Sept. 1, 1966, Phelps Dodgeestablished its large open pit copper mine andmill, and the “Sleeping Beauty” awakened.Fred Borenstein is said to have bought the$100,000 railroad depot for salvage and soldit for $1. He didn’t have the heart to wreck it.Freeport-McMoRan purchased the Tyronemine in 2007.

— from Silver City EnterpriseRegularly scheduled Historic mining district toursavailable on the second Tuesday of each monthfrom the Bayard City Hall, 800 Central, Bayard.Tours leave at 10am. Reservations are required at$5 and are about 11⁄2 hours. Learn more about theunderground mining history of the area. View his-toric mine headframes and the open pit coppermine at Santa Rita by a knowledgeable guide.Call 537-3327 for reservations and information.

Close to Silver City but Secluded Country Feel.

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2040 Memory LaneSilver City, NM 88061

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Continental Divide.(M109.5, US180)6,230 ft. You cross theContinental Divide fourtimes. Site 3

22 – SCENIC TOURS

This tour takes you to Cliff/Gila, Glenwood andMogollón. Billy the Kid’s stepfather, WilliamAntrim, was a blacksmith at Graham, a miningarea above Whitewater Canyon in Glenwood.Take US180 west from Silver City.’

Map page 15

1. Silver City Visitor Center. 210 N. Hudson. 2. Chloride Flat. (M112, US 180) Soon after the initialsilver strike in 1870, Lorenzo Carrasco and othersmade new discoveries at Chloride Flat, west oftown... the first major silver district in New Mexico,producing over 2 million ounces in its 20 years. TheCarrascos had experience in Mexico. By producingthe first marketable silver bullion, Carrasco brought inprospective miners and was largely responsible forthe 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 1700sthe Spanish knew this as Santa Lucía, a meetingplace and bivouac for their expeditions. In 1846Gen. Kearney, guided by Kit Carson, met with theApache chief Mangas Coloradas. Briefly it was anunofficial reservation for the Mimbres Apaches.

5. Gila/LC Ranch Headquarters (M89, US180)Turning right on RT211, in 4 miles you reach thetown of Gila, former headquarters of the once-famous Lyons-Campbell Ranch (private property). In1884 the ranch was described as the “largest in theworld,” 60 miles from north to south and 40 milesfrom east to west. A bona fide “cattle baron,”Thomas Lyons dreamed of an operation that wouldmake this the biggest cattle market west of KansasCity. The dream failed, and in 1917 he was mysteri-ously murdered in El Paso. Once part of the LC’sself-sufficient empire, many buildings in Gila remaina testament to the “Lion’s” energy.

6. Bill Evans Lake (M87, US180, W on FR809) This65-acre lake was created by the Phelps DodgeCorp. and stocked by the NM Dept. of Game andFish. This is a fee use area. A fishing license or NMState Game and Fish GAIN permit is required.

7. Gila River Bird Habitat Management Unit(M87, US180) This special section of the Gila Riverin the Gila National Forest is specifically managed asa bird habitat. It is a major migration route and agreat variety of riparian, water fowl, and desertscrub species can be seen here. Migrations begin inApril. (See direction to this site in BirdingDestinations on page 27, Site B9.)

8. Fort West Site (M85.5, US180, E on bluff) The firstAmerican settlement on the Gila, this fort was estab-lished in 1863 as part of a campaign against theApaches. Abandoned a year after construction, thefort was later dismantled. (Now on private property.)

9. Gila River (M85, US180). The Gila River starts inthe Gila National Forest and flows west to Yuma,AZ, and the Colorado River. It nurtures some of thebest remaining SW riparian habitats. Watch forheron and other birds.

10. Cliff (M84, US180) Cliff was settled about 1884 asa farming and ranching community. To the east arethe remains of a four-story, 300-room SaladosIndian 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 toAldo Leopold Vista, Site 11, is a county-maintained,graveled (dirt) road. It follows the base of theMogollón Range, with 26 miles of beautiful vistasand access to trailheads into the Gila Forest andWilderness. In Cliff, take NM293 north 2.2 miles;turn left onto Sacaton Road and follow it until ForestRoad 147, which exits mile north of the AldoLeopold Vista (See Site 11). Note that the road maybe unpassable if there has been recent rain or thereis rain in the forecast, and there are a couple ofwater crossings. Call the Gila National Forest at575-388-8201 or Glenwood Ranger District,575-539-2481 for road conditions.

HIGHLIGHTS

Gila River (M85, US180)Nurtures some of thebest remaining riparianhabitats. See heronand other birds. Site 9

Mogollon (M47.4,US180, 9 mi. on NM159)Mining Ghost Town,once one of the OldWest’s the wildest. Site 6

Tour 5

GILA HIGH COUNTRY TOUR 5

The Catwalk (M50,US180)250 foot walk-way clings to canyonwalls above White-water Creek. Site 16

Gila National Forest & Wilderness Area - Site 11 and Tour 3, Site 5

Gila High Country

In 1899 a large section of rugged forested mountains and rolling woodlands was setaside as a new public domain; eventually this would form the base of the almost 3.3 mil-lion acre Gila National Forest (pronounced Hee-la). Today, these mountains andcanyons, ranging in elevation from 4,200 to 11,000 feet, comprise one of the nation’slargest 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 pro-duced millions of dollars in gold and silver ore. The ore went down the long trail to SilverCity 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 interestingartifacts of area history. The movie “My Name Is Nobody” with Henry Fonda andTerence Hill was filmed here.If you are continuing east on NM159, have adequate gas and supplies. The next serv-

ices will be along the Mimbres River, 120-170 miles away. Sections of the road to SnowLake climb above 9,000 feet. This stretch, from Mogollón through the Willow Creekarea, is difficult and a better route is through Reserve, NM, on FS141.

You will go into the heart of the 3.3 million acreGila National Forest past high meadows

and running streams.

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OPTIONAL SIDE TRIP: Gila Riparian Preserve: 7,300 acres along the Gila River, ownedby The Nature Conservancy. In Cliff, take NM293 north for 5.5 milesto the Gila River. The Preserve is off to the left; use the stile in thefence to the right of the locked gate to cross into the Preserve.

11. Aldo Leopold Vista (M63.6, US180) This stop offers a superbview of the Gila Wilderness. It honors conservationist Aldo Leopoldwho, influenced by his experiences in the Gila National Forest, bold-ly advanced the field of game management. Leopold was instrumen-tal in the designation of the Gila Wilderness as the country’s firstwilderness area.

12. Soldiers Hill (M61.6, US180) To the west, in 1885, U.S. troops pur-sued Apache Indians who divided into three groups and caught thesoldiers in a deadly triple crossfire. The soldiers were buried in theWS cemetery (See Site 19).

13. Glenwood (M50, US180) This pleasant community, at the junctionof Whitewater Creek and the San Francisco River, attracts numeroushunters and fishermen. Lodging is available. Western artist OlafWieghorst has ties to Glenwood; he served with the Cavalry afterPancho Villa’s raid and later worked on area ranches.

14. Alma Jail House and Antrim Cabin (M50.5, US180) The LosOlmos Guest Ranch includes two historic buildings. The Alma jail willgive any visitor a claustrophobic sense of prison conditions. TheAntrim cabin was built and occupied by William Antrim, stepfather ofBilly the Kid. See “Billy the Kid” story page 22.

15. Glenwood Hatchery (M50.5, US180) A half mile east toward theCatwalk is the Glenwood Hatchery operated by the State Dept. ofGame and Fish. Visitors are welcome to observe the schools of troutswimming up and down the raceways. Ask about fishing in the pond.

16. The Catwalk. (M50.5, US180) Another five miles up the WhitewaterCanyon road will bring you to the unusual Catwalk. This 250-foot metalcauseway clings to the sides of the boulder-choked canyon, in someplaces only 20 feet wide and 250 feet deep. There are many spotswhere a hiker can leave the trail and relax on the grassy banks of thesycamore-shaded stream. The trail continues into the Wilderness. Publisher’s Note: New construction on the the metal walkways and trail isscheduled to begin the summer of 2016 due to 2013 floods. The Catwalk is located 5 mi. east of Glenwood, past the Glenwood Hatchery, anexcellent stop to visit! From the Catwalk, return to US180. Three miles up US180is the turnoff to the Mogollón ghost town. Call the Gila National Forest at 575-388-8201 or Glenwood Ranger District, 575-539-2481 for trail conditions.Stay on US180 in order to see Alma, Cooney’s Tomb and the WS Ranch. Thosenot continuing on the loop to Mogollón might wish to travel further on scenicUS180 and NM12 to the old ranching community of Reserve, NM.

17. Alma (M46, US180) This small community, once a stop on the “out-law trail” from Mexico, was used as a refuge by such men as ButchCassidy and his gang.

18. Cooney’s Tomb (M46.1, US180, 5 mi. on FR701) Sgt. JamesCooney discovered riches and began to develop his gold and silverdeposits after being discharged in 1875. He was killed April 30,1880, by Victorio and his Apaches. Cooney’s mutilated body wasfound by friends who carved a tomb out of a huge boulder onMineral Creek. His brother, Capt. M. Cooney, later came from Chicagoto develop the Mogollón mines.

19. WS Ranch and Cemetery. (M44.3, US180) Still in operation, thissprawling ranch was run in the 1890s by the entertaining author,Captain William French. Using aliases, Butch Cassidy and his menonce worked as hands at the WS (private land). In 1885, troops weremassacred at Soldiers Hill (#12) and were buried in a hillside ceme-tery here, still visible. At this point, turn and backtrack to M47.4 and the road to Mogollón.The steep, narrow, paved road to Mogollón is not recommended forlarge trailers, and may be unpassable during the winter months.

20. Mogollón. (M47.4, US180, 9 mi. on NM159) The narrow road toMogollón first winds to Whitewater Mesa with its high meadowagainst mountainous backdrop. Almost at the top, you will seeacross the canyon the tailings of the old Little Fanney Mine(reclaimed in early 1990s), among the richest in the region. Mogollónlies tucked in the narrow valley below.Publisher’s Note: The steep, narrow, paved road to Mogollón is not recom-mended for large trailers, and may be unpassable during the winter months. Eastof Mogollón NM159 to Willow Creek becomes a gravel road. High clearancevehicles are recommended. Low clearance vehicles and long trailers are notadvised. It's closed in winter and opens in May. Call the Gila National Forest at575-388-8201 or Glenwood Ranger Dist., 575-539-2481 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 toWillow Creek is among the most beautiful in Southwest NM.

22. Snow Lake (39 miles east of Glenwood, FR142) At an altitude of7,400 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 575-388-8201for road conditions. Forest Roads are frequently closed.

SCENIC TOURS 23

THE CATWALK. The town called both Graham and Whitewatergrew up around a mill built by John T. Graham in 1893 and survived lessthan 10 years. All that remains to mark the spot is part of the mill walls stillclinging to the west side of the canyon near the entrance to The Catwalk.The mines above the canyon were worked from their discovery in 1889until 1942 (Billy the Kid's stepfather, William Antrim, was a blacksmith atGraham).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 minesbecause of the rough, narrow canyon. A 3-mile, 4-inch metal pipeline pro-vided a continuous water supply to the town and its electric generator. Alarger 18" pipeline was built in 1897 to run a big, new generator. Today’sCatwalk 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 small-er teams to an ore chute, located on the ridge just above the mill. Braceholes were drilled into the solid rock walls, sometimes 20 feet above thecanyon floor, to hold the timbers and iron bars that supported the small-er water line along its meandering course. Some of the original 18" pipessupport 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 TheCatwalk as a recreation attraction for the Gila National Forest. The pres-ent metal catwalk was built by the Forest Service in 1961 and extensivelyrenovated in 2004. – Eve SimmonsCall the Gila National Forest at 575-388-8201 or the Glenwood Ranger District,575-539-2481 for trail conditions.

MOGOLLÓN.The small community of Mogollón (mo-goh-yone) sits at6,800 feet in the Mogollón Range of the mountains of the Gila Wilder-ness.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 andresumed 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 hardyyear-round residents. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between Mayand October, visitors to Mogollón will find an art gallery, mining muse-um, antique store, and small cafe open for business, along with seasonalweekend 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 inMogollón, a rough gravel road leads north 1-1/4 miles up GraveyardGulch into the hills to end, as you might guess, at the old Mogollón grave-yard. 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 bet-ter to make the pilgrimage on foot where the essence of this remarkableplace 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 work-ings, tumbled-down miner's shacks and assorted decaying artifacts ofhuman toil and struggle.Publisher’s Note: Contact the U.S. Forest Service for updated road, trail and camp-ground information in these regions of the Gila National Forest. Silver City 575-388-8201; Glenwood 575.539.2481; Reserve 575-533-8029.

WHITEWATER CANYON is a steep rugged gorge that originatesdeep in the Gila Wilderness. A fast flowing stream passes through the nar-row canyon outlet beneath The Catwalk and into picnic grounds near an oldmill site. The flow continues downstream through Glenwood to convergewith the San Francisco River. The Catwalk National Recreation Trail pro-vides able hikers access to pristine wilderness trout waters above TheCatwalk. Check with the forest service for conditions and accessibility. Publisher’s Note: New construction on the the metal walkways and trail is scheduled tobegin the summer of 2016 due to 2013 floods.

24 – SCENIC TOURS

Birding Destinations B1-B11 page 26Hiking Destinations H1-H12 page 28Mountain Biking Destinations M1-M4 page 30Road Cycling Destinations R1-R5 page 30Motorcycling Destinations MC1-MC3 page 30

SILVER CITY/GRANT COUNTY RECREATION MAP

THE GATEWAY TO ALLYOUR

Jim ThomisonOwner/Broker

575.590.7666jimt1122@hotmail.com

LJ LundyAssociate Broker

575.313.3568LLundy@silvercity-realestate.com

501 Silver Heights Blvd. Silver City, NM 88061• 575.538.2931 | 800.456.3132 | Fax 575.636.2050 • www.silvercity-realestate.com

City of Rocks Scenic Tour: This tour takes youSouth of Silver City through the Mining District toDeming and Columbus with an Optional Side Tripto Lordsburg & Portal, AZ.Take US180 east, visit Ft. McLane (Site 5); continue toNM61. Left to City of Rocks State Park (Site 6);Viewpoint (Site 7); continue south on US180 east, toDeming Museum (Site 8); continue east on NM549and south on NM143 to Rockhound State Park (Site9) and NM11 to Columbus and Pancho Villa StatePark (Site 10).

Map page 2

1. Santa Clara. (US180). First county seat. Oncenamed “Central.”

2. Bayard. (M124, US180). Now center of the miningdistrict, the town originally was a railroad supplypoint for Fort Bayard. Regularly scheduled miningtours, call Visitor Center 538-5555.

3. Hurley. (M127, US180) The location of the formerChino Mine Smelter.

4.Mining Museum & Gallery. (M127, US180)Circa 1910, Copper smelter photos, MimbresIndian artifacts; 99 Cortez. Railroad museum isbeing developed.

5. Fort McLane. (M131.5, US180). To the east is thesite of Fort McLane, established in 1861 to protectPinos Altos, Santa Rita, and the Butterfield trail. Herethe 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 onUS180, and 4 miles east on NM61). Formed from anancient lava flow and eroded by the wind and water,these rock formations create an eerie and fantasticalworld. Complete with a desert garden, the park offersexcellent 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 theTres Hermanas (Three Sisters) to their right. West,one can see the Burro Mountains and Jack’s Peak,site of a Smithsonian solar radiation observatory inthe 1930s, with the Freeport-McMoRan mine at thebase. The Butterfield Trail, Pony Express Route, andMormon Battalion Trail all passed just to the south.The Janos Trail carried copper ore south toChihuahua City, Mexico.

8.Deming/Luna Mimbres Museum.Minerals, gems, frontier military history andMimbres exhibits and collections.

9.Rockhound State Park. A 250-acre park haspicnic facilities, overnight camping, hiking trails,wildlife and exhibits on local history and a botanicaland native pollinator garden.

10.Pancho Villa State Park. Located on the site ofold Camp Furlong where Villa raided the U.S. This 61acre park offers a massive desert botanical garden,camping and museum/visitor center.If you decide to go into Mexico check New Identifi-cation Requirements. Return via US180 to Silver City.OPTIONAL ROUTE: Travel I-10 to Lordsburg. VisitLordsburg Museum, Shakespeare Ghost Town, andPortal, AZ for birding in Chiricahua Mountains.

11. Lordsburg Museum. Once a stage stop on theButterfield Trail, relive Lordsburg’s history and thecounty’s farming and ranching heritage.

12.Shakespeare Ghost Town. Hangings andshootings were commonplace in this 1880s townwith no lawmen. Call ahead for tour dates and re-enactments. 575-542-9034 shakespeareghosttown.com Return to Silver City on NM90.

CITY OF ROCKS TOUR 6

City of Rocks State Park - Site 6

HIGHLIGHTS

Shakespeare GhostTown.(46 mi. SE onNM90) Authenticallypreserved remains ofa rough and tumbleera of the 1880s.Site 12

Lordsburg Playas.(I-10 west of Lordsburg)Dry lake beds that drainby seepage to underly-ing groundwater arefound in SouthwestNM. Site 11

Cooks Peak. (M139,US180, junction NM61).The 8,408 foot peak, aprominent SouthernNM landmark, can beviewed from I-10 & 1-25. Site 7

Pancho Villa StatePark. A 61-acre parklocated where Villa raid-ed the U.S. CampFurlong Day is held inMarch commenoratingthe raid. Site 10

Scenic Tour 6

City of Rocks STATE PARK

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NMU

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City of Rocks State Park, located in the extreme southwestern corner of GrantCounty, 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.T heory 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 col-lection of misshapen, albeit benign, giants. Essentially, it is a flat-lying sheet of red-dish lava which has been chiseled by action of water-borne abrasives into the like-ness of a city with streets and buildings. The jointing of the rocks has taken placealong vertical rather than horizontal planes, with the consequence that the“streets” are more or less the same height. There are formations which readily sug-gest 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 hadbeen laid off with surveyor’s instruments. Plant life of the “City” includes shade-providing evergreen oaks. Dominant plants on the surrounding plain are treeyucca, broomweed, and black grama grass. — by Ross Calvin

26 SCENIC TOURS www.ziapublishing.com

339 species, approximately 85% of the bird speciesthat can be seen in New Mexico. Over 20 BirdingAreas identified. It has been said this area is one of

the top birding spots in the nation.

339 species, approximately 85% of the bird speciesthat can be seen in New Mexico Over 20 Birding

Birding

Big Ditch Park(Broadway Street) Apleasant place to birdwhile visiting historicdowntown Silver City.Site B1

Lake Roberts (M22-24, NM35) High moun-tain lake, excellentbirding for water fowland mountain species.Site B4

Fort Bayard WildlifeRefuge. (M120.5,US180) Trails in therefuge offer pleasant hik-ing and opportunities tosee elk. Site B6

Gila Cliff DwellingsNat’l. Mon. (M43.7,NM15) You can bird onthe half-mile walk tothe Gila Cliff Dwellings.Site B5

Black Range (NM152)A beautiful variety ofscenery and places topark and bird in theNat’l. Forest. Site B7

Whitewater CanyonM50.5, US180) Rockwalls of this narrowcanyon make this aunique birding excur-sion. Site B11

HIGHLIGHTS

Photo by LeAnne Knudsen

Southwest New Mexico has a well-deserved reputation for birding. The lush riparian river valleys, scenic mountains andcanyons, and the surrounding grasslands of the Gila National Forest attract about 339 species, approximately 85% of thebird 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 inthe 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-lateApril with a flow of migrants up the Gila River Valley. Summer offers excellent birding in the cool forested mountains, aswell 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, Baldand 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

Photo by Debra Sutton

SCENIC TOURS 27

Map page 24We offer this guide as yourintroduction to some of thebest birding locations inGrant County. Travel timesare from Silver City. Areamaps and SW New MexicoBirding Maps are available atthe Murray Ryan VisitorCenter at 201 N. Hudson inSilver City. These locationsare keyed to the GrantCounty Recreation Map.

Birding In & NearSilver CityB1. Big Ditch Park Once the main street of Silver Cityin the late 1800s, this unique parkwas created by a series of floods inthe early 1900s. It’s a pleasantplace to bird in addition to visitinghistoric downtown Silver City.

Location: Silver City Visitor Center.Facilities: Restrooms at Visitor Center.Habitat: Riparian.B2. Little Walnut Picnic AreaThis Gila National Forest picnic areanorth of Silver City has well-signedtrails and offers birding as well aspleasant hiking.

Location: North from SilverCity on Little Walnut Rd.Travel time one-way: 15 min.Facilities: Toilets, picnic tables.Habitat: Ponderosa pine,piñón-juniper and oak woodlands. B3. Cherry Creek &McMillen CampgroundsThis beautiful canyon offers excel-lent birding for forest species. Thecampgrounds are a mile apart andthere are signs indicating eachentrance.

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 RobertsThis beautiful mountain lake offersexcellent birding for waterfowl andmountain species. The State GameCommission owns Lake Robertsand a GAIN (Gain Access IntoNature) permit is required. Thisspecial permit helps wildlife and isavailable at Wal-Mart and DocCampbell’s Post near the Gila CliffDwellings. The cost is $9 for a 5-day permit or $20 annually.

Location: North on NM 15then right on NM 35 to Lake Roberts.

Travel time one-way: 1 hour 15 minutes. Facilities: Toilets, picnic tables.Habitat: Aquatic, ponderosapine, piñón-juniper and oak woodlandsB5. Gila Cliff Dwellings National MonumentTrail 151 from the Monument pro-vides good access for birdingalong the West Fork of the GilaRiver. You can also bird on the half-mile walk to the Gila CliffDwellings. The Visitor Center has agreat 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 VisitorCenter, Cliff Dwellings EntryStation, and picnic areas;entry fee for Gila Cliff DwellingNational Monument trail. Habitat: Riparian, ponderosapine, piñón-juniper, and oak woodlands

Birding East of Silver CityB6. Fort Bayard Wildlife RefugeHistoric Ft. Bayard was a frontiercavalry fort in the late 1800s. ANational Cemetery is located here.Marked National Recreation Trails inthe refuge offer pleasant hiking andopportunities to see elk.

Location: East on Hwy 180,turn left at light to Ft. Bayardthen follow the signs for forestroad 536. The road dead endsin 3 miles at the trailhead butyou can pull off at severallocations along the way to bird. Travel time one-way: 15 min.Facilities: None Habitat: Riparian, grasslands,piñón-juniper, and oak woodlands.

B7. Black RangeThe Black Range offers a beautifulvariety of scenery and convenientplaces to park and bird in theNational Forest campgrounds alongNM 152. These campgrounds areLower Gallinas, Upper Gallinas,Railroad Canyon, and Iron Creek.

Location: East on Hwy 180then left on NM 152. Travel time one-way: 1 hour.Facilities: Toilets, picnic tables.Habitat: Riparian, mixedconifer.

Birding West of Silver CityB8. Mangas Springs.This small marsh along Hwy 180 is an oasis in the surrounding arid grasslands.

Location: West on Hwy 180between milepost 96 and 95 onwest side of highway. Turn westonto McMillen Road, which par-allels Hwy 180 for a half-mile.There’s a small pull off with atrashcan where you can parkand walk along the road to bird.The road intersects again withHwy 180. The sign at this junc-tion says Mangas Springs.Travel time one-way: 20 min.Facilities: None.Habitat: Marsh, cottonwoodsand willows.

B9. Gila River Bird HabitatManagement UnitThe Gila River Bird Habitat on theGila National Forest is a majormigration route.Location: West on Hwy 180then left at the Bill Evens Laketurnoff, milepost 87. In about3.5 miles there is a Y-intersec-tion. Continue straight southonto the gravel road which willtake you to the Gila River BirdHabitat. It’s about 5 miles. Thegravel road will ascend into thehills away from the river for afew miles and than return tothe river at the River Vista park-ing area. You’ll find excellentbirding as you follow the pathsthrough cottonwoods and riverwillows along the river.Travel time one-way: 1 hour.Facilities: Toilet at each location.Habitat: Aquatic, riparian, anddesert foothills.B10. Gila River Iron BridgeConservation AreaYou can bird from the beautiful ironbridge that spans the Gila River.Location: West on Hwy 180 tothe Gila River Bridge, milepost85. After crossing the Gila Rivertake an immediate left onto IronBridge Road. Go a short distancefarther and park at the boulders.You can see the Iron Bridge fromhere. Go through the gate in thefence to get to the bridge. Travel time one-way: 45 min.Facilities: None.Habitat: Aquatic, riparian.

B11. Whitewater CanyonThe Catwalk National RecreationTrail, made up of metal walkwaysattached to rock walls with White-water Creek frothing below makethis a unique birding excursion.Publisher’s Note: New constructionon the the metal walkways and trailis scheduled to begin the summer of2016 due to 2013 floods.

Location: West on Hwy 180 toGlenwood, mile marker 50,then turn right on NM 174.Travel time one-way: 1 hour 15 min.Facilities: Toilets and picnic areaHabitat: Riparian

SOUTHWEST BIRDING TRAIL. Southwest New Mexico was the first area of thestate to develop a birding guide. Forty-one sites were selected and include a wide variety ofhabitats. The official Southwestern New Mexico Birding Trail maps are available througharea Chambers of Commerce and United States Forest Service offices, as well as localAudubon chapters. For more information on these birding sites go to:www.oldwestcountry.com and www.tmbyway.com. Follow the Sites.Over 20 birding areas identified. It’s been said that this area is one of the top birdingspots in the nation and birders who visit regularly believe this is true. Follow the sites.

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28 SCENIC TOURS www.ziapublishing.com

Photo by Debra Sutton

Photo by Jackie Blurton

Photo by Jackie Blurton

Photo by Becky O’Connor

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Signal Peak Trail(M14, NM15) A half-day, 5-mile roundtriphike to the Signal Peaklookout tower at 9000ft. Site H2

Gila River Middle &West Fork Trails(M43.7, NM15) Out andback hikes and havenumerous river cross-ings Site H3

Little Dry Creek(M61.5, US180,Sacaton Rd.) A leisurely2 mile hike to theWilderness boundary.Site H9

Mineral Creek(M46.1, US180, 5 mi.on FR701) A mountaincanyon of steep wallsand clear water. Tour 5,Site 18

Dragonfly LoopTrail (M20.5, US180)Part of the FortBayard trail system, with picto-graphs. Site H6

Gold Dust Trail (M47.4,US180, 3.9 mi. onNM159) Beautiful hikelooks over White-waterCanyon, home of theCatwalk. Site H11

Photo by Becky O’Connor

Photo by Jackie Blurton

Photo by Jackie Blurton

HIGHLIGHTS

Grant County, a land of contrast and diversity, is a splendid place for hiking in all seasons. You don’t have to go farto find a trail to set your feet upon and enjoy one of our great recreational pastimes. A few minutes walk from the roadand you’ll be surrounded with solitude and the whisper of pines and aspens. Pool-filled canyons lead you through shadyforests and sun-filled 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 ravenssoar, 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 andthe activities of ancient peoples and frontier miners. Grasslands and piñón/juniper woodlands skirt the mountains. Pineand 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 for-est includes the 558,065-acre Gila Wilderness, and the 202,016-acre Aldo Leopold Wilderness.

Hiking Destinationswritten By Jackie Blurton

“Mountain peaks will beckon you.”

Hiking in the Gila

SCENIC TOURS 29

Map page 24Here are a few of our favorite dayhikes. Travel time to the trailheads isfrom Silver City. Trail mileage isapproximate. Area maps are availableat the Murray Ryan Visitor Center. GilaNational Forest and Wilderness mapsare available at the Gila National ForestSupervisors Office, 3005 E. CaminoDel Bosque in Silver City, and at DistrictRanger Stations.

Hiking Near Silver CityH1. Little Walnut Picnic Area/Gomez Peak Trail SystemThere are well-signed loop trails.Location: North of Silver City onLittle Walnut Road Travel time one-way: 15 minFacilities: Toilets, picnic areaVegetation: Ponderosa, piñón-juniperHiking North of Silver CityH2. Signal Peak Trail #742This is a nice half-day, 5-mileroundtrip hike to the Signal Peaklookout tower at 9000 ft.Location: North on NM 15, milepost14; look for the trailhead sign on theright and parking pull-off on the leftTravel time one-way: 30 min.Facilities: NoneVegetation: Mixed conifer, oak

H3. Gila River, Middle Fork Trail#157 and West Fork Trail #151Trail #157 begins at the Gila CliffDwellings Visitor Center. Trail #151begins at the entry station to the GilaCliff Dwellings. These are out andback hikes, so go as far as you want.Both have numerous river crossingsand appropriate footwear is recom-mended. I use fabric and leatherboots that I don’t mind getting wet.Don’t hike these trails when riversare at flood stage. Location: North on NM 15 at theGila Cliff Dwellings Nat’l MonumentTravel time one-way: 1 hr 45 minFacilities: Toilets & picnic areasEnvironment: Riparian, ponderosaH4. Little Creek Trail #160Trail #160 climbs a ridge with greatviews of mountains and canyons. It’s4.25 miles one-way to Little Creek.You can make a 9-mile loop by hik-ing #160, #162, EE Canyon Trail#813, and West Fork Trail #151 backto the Gila Cliff Dwellings.Location: On NM15, before the GilaCliff Dwellings National MonumentTravel time one-way: 1 hr 45 min.Facilities: ToiletVegetation: Ponderosa, piñón-juniper

H5. Little Bear Canyon Trail #729This trail takes you over a ridge andthrough the beautiful Little BearCanyon narrows to the Middle Forkof the Gila River. It’s 4.25 miles one-way. Flash floods are possible inLittle Bear during rainstorms.Location: North on NM 15, beforethe Gila Cliff Dwellings NationalMonumentTravel time one-way: 1 hr 45 min.Facilities: ToiletVegetation: Ponderosa, piñón-juniper

Hiking East of Silver CityH6. Fort Bayard Wildlife RefugeThe refuge is part of the GilaNational Forest and has many trailsbut few signs. A favorite destinationis a 4-mile round-trip hike to the BigTree, a 600-year-old AlligatorJuniper. The trail is marked.Location: East on Hwy 180, left atthe light to Fort Bayard. Stay to theright at all the “Y” intersection untilyou come to Forest Road 536. Go 3miles on the gravel road to theparking area at the end of the road.Travel time one-way: 30 minFacilities: NoneVegetation: Ponderosa, piñón-juniperH7. Gallinas Canyon Trail #129and Railroad Canyon Trail #128Both trails begin at the same trailhead.At 1.5 miles the trail divides. Trail#129 switchbacks up a slope to theleft and goes up Gallinas Canyon 4.5miles to the crest of the Black Rangeat 9000 ft. Trail #128 continues upRailroad Canyon 3.5 miles to thecrest of the Black Range at 8800 ft. Location: East on NM 152 in theBlack Range; look for trailheadsign for #129 on the left.Travel time one-way: 50 min.Facilities: ToiletVegetation: Mixed conifer

H8. Black Range Crest Trail #79Crest Trail #79 South from EmoryPass: This is a great hike along theBlack Range crest through coolpines and aspens. It’s 4 miles oneway to Sawyers Peak at 9640 ft.Crest Trail #79 North from EmeryPass: This trail offers many excep-tional vistas. An excellent day hikedestination is the 5.5-mile hike tothe lookout tower on Hillsboro Peakat 10,011 ft.Location: East on NM 152 in theBlack Range at Emory PassTravel time one-way: 1 hr.Facilities: ToiletVegetation: Mixed conifer,aspen

Hiking West of Silver CityH9. Little Dry Creek Trail #180It’s 4.5 miles to Windy Gap at 8200ft up this narrow canyon with astream and pools.Location: West on Hwy 180; turnright on Forest Road 147 about 1mile after the Aldo LeopoldHistorical Monument; go 3.5 miles,then left on Forest Road 196; it’sabout 4 miles to the trailhead. Travel time one-way: 1.5 hrFacilities: NoneVegetation: Mixed conifer,aspen

H10. Holt Apache Trail #181It’s 5 miles and a 2800 ft elevationgain from the trailhead to Holt Springat 9200 ft.Location: West on Hwy 180; lookfor the #181 trail sign on the rightside of the road about 4 milesafter the Aldo Leopold HistoricalMonument; it’s 4 miles on ForestRoad 146 to the trailhead.Travel time one-way: 1 hrFacilities: NoneVegetation: Mixed conifer,aspen

H11. Gold Dust Trail #41 About 2 miles long, covering thesame stretch and distance alongWhitewater Creek as the CatwalkTrail except it is about 600 ft abovethe creek and canyon. Location: West on Hwy 180 pastGlenwood, then right on NM159(Bursum Road); go 3.9 miles to agravel road on the right; go 200yds to the trailhead.Travel time one-way: 1.5 hrFacilities: NoneVegetation: Open, piñón-juniper

Hiking South of Silver CityH12. Continental Divide Trail This is part of the Continental DivideNational Recreation Trail. The trailgoing north from the parking areaclimbs up to Jacks Peak at 8000 ft.The trail going south goes throughhigh desert hills and washes. Location: South on Hwy 90 onnorth side of road between mile-post 20 and 21.Travel time one-way: 20 minFacilities: NoneVegetation: High desert, piñón-juniper, oak woodlands;conifers on Jacks PeakContact the U.S. Forest Service forupdated road, trail and camp-ground information in these regionsof the Gila National Forest. Silver City575-388-8201; Glenwood 575-539-2481; Reserve 575-533-8029.

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Biking & Cyclingg y gGrant Count has some of the best year-around bicycling.

Map page 24Here are some of our favoritemountain and road rides. Areamaps are available at theMurray Ryan Visitor Center,201 N. Hudson Street in SilverCity. More information, bikegear, sales and service areavailable at the bike shops inSilver City.

Mountain Bike RidesM1. Burro CDT SouthThis is a new segment of theContinental Divide Trail (CDT).Location: South from Silver Cityon NM 90 between milepost 22& 21. Turn right onto ForestRoad 282. At the end of the roadpark near the trailhead sign forJacks Peak. Across the grassyclearing to the south is a cairnand CDT marker at the trailhead. Difficulty: ModerateTravel time to trailhead: 20 min.

M2. Little Walnut PicnicArea/Gomez Peak TrailSystemA great system of trails that begin atthe Little Walnut Picnic Area.Directions to Trailhead: North ofSilver City on Little Walnut Rd.Difficulty: Moderate to difficultTravel time to Trailhead: 15 min.

M3. Fort Bayard Wildlife RefugeThis is part of the Gila National Forestand has a great system of NationalRecreation Trails. Directions to trailhead: East fromSilver City on Hwy 180, betweenmilepost 118 and 119 turn leftonto Arenas Valley Road then go1 mile to the parking area. Difficulty: Moderate to difficult.Travel time to Trailhead:15 to 20 min.

Road Bike RidesLightly traveled roads makeGrant Co. a great place foryear-around cycling.

R1. US Highway 180 West(NM Bike Route 18)A light to moderately traveled two-lane road with shoulders.Directions: Ride west from SilverCity on Hwy 180Terrain: Hills and valleys

R2. NM 15 to Sapillo CreekThis is a local favorite. From Silver Cityto Pinos Altos, about 7 miles, the roadis 2-lane with shoulders. North ofPinos Altos the road becomes a nar-row 2-way with no lane markings orshoulders. It’s 18 miles from PinosAltos to the junction with NM 35.There are several good turn-aroundpoints if you don’t want to go all theway. The last 3-mile descent intoSapillo Creek is steep with blind hair-pin curves. Directions: Ride north fromSilver City on NM 15Terrain: Winding mountain roads

Mimbres River Valley R3, R4, R5.There are 3 ride options in theMimbres River Valley. To get to theMimbres, go east from Silver City onHwy 180 then turn left onto NM 152.It’s about 20 miles from Silver City tothe Mimbres Valley. If you don’t wantto ride this section, you can drive tothe Mimbres Valley and park in a grav-el parking area at the junction of NM152 and 61 at milepost 15 and ridefrom there.

R3 Upper Mimbres River ValleyNM 35 is an easy ride up the valley tothe Continental Divide between milemarker 15 and 16. Lake Roberts is 7miles further.Location: East on Hwy 180, turnleft at light to Ft Bayard then

follow the signs for forest road536. The road dead ends in 3miles at the trailhead but youcan pull off at several locationsalong the way to bird.Directions: Ride north from NM152 on NM 35Terrain: River valley

R4 Lower Mimbres River ValleyNM 61 is an easy ride down the valley.Directions: Ride south from NM152 on NM 61. It’s 26 miles toHwy 180Terrain: River valley

R5. Emory Pass.NM 152 continues east across the val-ley and climbs 17 miles into the BlackRange to 8,000 ft. Emory Pass. Theroad up to the Gila National Forestboundary is a wide 2-lane thenbecomes a narrow 2-lane with blindcurves and some steep grades. This isfor experienced riders.Directions: Ride east on NM 152Terrain: Winding mountainroads

Motorcycle ToursWelcome to our scenicbyways. Beautiful mountainscenery and good roads makeGrant County a great motorcy-cling destination.Approximate mileages and trav-el times are from Silver City.Area maps are available at theSilver City Grant County VisitorCenter, 201 N Hudson St. inSilver City.

MC1. The Gila Cliff Dwellings- Trail of the Mountain SpiritsScenic BywayMiles: 122 round trip. Travel time one-way: 1 hr 45 minGas: Silver City, the village of

Mimbres, and Lake RobertsGeneral Store on NM 35. Directions: Follow the Trail of theMountain Spirits Scenic Bywayby going east from Silver City onHwy 180 or north on NM 15MC2. The Catwalk of White-water Canyon and Mogollón PeakTrail SystemMiles: 136 round trip to theCatwalk; 163 round trip toMogollón Travel time one-way: 1 hr 30 minto the Catwalk; 1 hr 45 min toMogollónGas: Silver City, Cliff andGlenwood Directions to the Catwalk: Westfrom Silver City on Hwy. 180; inGlenwood turn right onto NM 174Directions to Mogollón: If youwant to visit the old miningtown of Mogollón continuenorth from Glenwood 3 milesand turn right onto NM 159. It’s9 miles up a very narrow wind-ing mountain road with blindcurves and no guardrails.Mogollón has well preservedbuildings from the late 1800s.Terrain: Valleys and windingmountain roadsPublisher’s Note: Contact the GilaNational Forest at 575-388-8201 orGlenwood Ranger Dist., 575-539-2481for road conditions.MC3. Emory Pass and HillsboroMiles: 74 round trip to EmoryPass; 116 round trip toHillsboro Travel time one-way: 1 hr toEmory Pass; 1 hr 45 min toHillsboroGas: Silver City, HillsboroDirections to Emory Pass: Goeast from Silver City on Hwy180, then turn left onto NM 152Directions to Hillsboro: FromEmory Pass continue down theeast side of the Black Range tovisit the town of HillsboroTerrain: Winding mountainroads

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