Interesting side trips in the Area

The Gila Cliff Dwellings
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument offers a glimpse of the homes and lives of the people of the Mogollon culture who lived there from the 1280's through the early 1300's. Containing 533 acres, it was established on November 16, 1907. The dwellings are located forty-four miles north of Silver City, New Mexico, on Highway 15.

Lake Roberts
Surrounded by mountains this picturesque lake provides excellent trout fishing, being regularly stocked by the Department of Game and Fish. It is located north of Silver City on NM35. The Sapillo [SAP-eeoh] Creek flows west toward the Colorado River while the nearby Mimbres River (separated by the Continental Divide) flows to the east. Boat rentals, bait and supplies are available.

Pinos Altos
Six minutes and 1500 feet above Silver City is the old mining town of Pinos Altos [Tall Pines]. It was once a thriving gold mining town of 9000 when Silver City was but a tent or two. It was first named Birchville and gold was discovered in 1837. On Sept. 27, 1861, some 500 Apaches led by Cochise and Mangas Coloradas attacked Pinos Altos. The miners killed more than a dozen Indians and 3 miners were killed. A later raid killed 40 miners after they were supposedly distracted by attractive squaws placed by Mangas. The Apache chief was tricked into giving up and was taken to Ft. McLane, where he was shot and beheaded while "trying to escape." Pinos Altos was home to a Hearst (of newspaper fame) gold mine and a store operated by (Judge) Roy Bean and his brother Sam.  Pinos Altos is full of historic century-old buildings of the once booming county seat. You can also find memorabilia of gunfights, Apache raids and the Mimbres culture.

Just for fun, make reservations to attend the Pinos Altos Melodrama Theatre, Friday and Saturday nights.  "Boo" and throw popcorn at the villain; "pine" for the heroine and eat one of the best meals in town!  Reservations should be made well in advance by calling 505-388-3848.

Gila National Forest

From the cottonwoods of the Mimbres Valley, you will quickly enter the juniper, pinon and ponderosa pine country of the Gila (pronounced 'HEE-la') Forest.

Here, spruce and fir thrive on the highest peaks, while the desert agave clings to the vertical cliffs of deep canyon walls. Almost one fourth of the 3.3 million acre forest is in wilderness. Largest of these is the 438,360 acre Gila Wilderness, promoted by conservationist Aldo Leopold and set aside in 1924 as the first such area in the United States

Western New Mexico University

Western New Mexico University Museum in Silver City houses the largest permanent display of Mimbres pottery and culture in the US, including the outstanding Eisele Collection.
 

City of Rocks State Park
Near Faywood, along Highway 180, formed of volcanic ash 30 million years ago and sculpted by wind and water into rows of monolithic blocks, City of Rocks State Park takes its name from these incredible rock formations. Cactus gardens and hiking trails add to this unique destination.  The rock formations at the park are so unique that they are only known to exist in six other places in the world. Imaginative visitors may see the rock formations as a small city, complete with houses, chimneys, courtyards, and streets.  Ancient Paths:  Until 1200 A.D., Mimbres Indian roamed this area and left arrowheads and pottery shards as evidence of their culture. Spanish conquistadors also spent time in the area, carving crosses into the rocks.

The Cat Walk
Whitewater Canyon, site of the Catwalk Trail, was a central point in the mining saga. Construction of the water lines was an engineering feat that probably would not be attempted today. Brace holes were drilled into the solid rock walls - sometimes 20 feet above the canyon floor - to hold timbers and iron Some of the original 18-inch pipes support one side of the present Catwalk. Workmen who had to walk the line to repair damage dubbed it the "Catwalk." Each year, thousands take the thrilling walk along the cool, colorful Whitewater Canyon.

Mogollon Ghost Town
The mining camp at Mogollon was started during the 1890s in the bottom of Silver Creek Canyon. Several mines of some note were started with the one named Little Fanny gaining the reputation that is the history of the town itself. The presence of miner's consumption was so severe it was not uncommon for miners working the Little Fanny to last only three years or less. The ghastly toll of men working in the mine forced the owners to develop the method of spraying water under pressure from the jack-hammers in breaking the quartz for removal from the mine. As the dust was reduced, so was the patient load for the town's three doctors.

The population of the town at the time Little Fanny was being developed was about 2,000 and that was in 1909. By 1915, the mine's payroll each month was between $50,000 and $75,000 with the mine's gold and silver bullion being shipped to Silver City by mule team. During World War I, trucks took over hauling the ore to Silver City but the end was in sight. As time progressed, the assay value of the ore began to drop to the point it was no longer profitable to continue operations. When the Little Fanny closed down, so did Mogollon.