Silver City, New Mexico: A Beautiful Respite from the Desert Heat

The gorgeous trails of Bear Mountain

The best part about staying here are the wonderful on-site trails, of which there are 3. There are terrific mountain vistas everywhere you look and wildlife sightings are not uncommon. Be on the lookout for artistic surprises along the way including a special cat art sculpture and a labyrinth.

On one of the trails, you will come across a unique art installation mentioned earlier – known as the 1 million bones exhibit. This public art display, dedicated to lives lost through genocide, has been installed in numerous cities across the country. It is now a permanent display.

A wonderful daytrip base: Exploring “The Land of Enchantment”

Asides from relaxation and enjoying the serene natural surroundings, most tourists choose to enjoy convenient daytrip access to numerous natural wonders. You might as well check out a few of these unique sites while you have the opportunity. Gila Cliff Dwellings is the most popular destination.

Gila Cliff Dwellings

Most visitors set out for the lengthy drive to the Gila Cliff Dwellings, one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in the country. Here, you can explore about 5 caves with 40 dwellings inside each. Although the national monument is just 44 miles away, it takes about 2 hours to get here due to the windy, curving mountain road known as the Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway.

As I’ve seen many cliff dwellings in Arizona (including the fantastic Walnut Canyon & Montezuma Castle), I decided to focus on other area attractions and save myself the 4 hr round-trip drive.

City of Rocks

City of Rocks is a really interesting place where oddly shaped rock formations rise up in striking contrast to the surrounding flat desert. These odd formations resulted from a volcanic eruption 34.9 million years ago. The erosion led to some truly unique formations, some of which stand a whopping 40 feet tall. The rocks are separated via paths, thus resembling a city layout, hence the unique name. This is one of those otherworldly places that you really have to see for yourself.

I love exploring oddball roadside attractions and this place is exactly that. The rocks seem to pop up suddenly in the middle of a really desolate area. This really is a weird, fascinating place to check out if you are in the area – if anything for the strangeness factor alone. The drive is just 40 min or so with no traffic and quite nice scenery. I recommend combining a trip here with a visit to nearby Faywood Hot Springs to justify the drive.

Distance from Silver City: 40 minutes

Price: $5 per vehicle

Faywood Hot Springs

Soaking in the natural mineral infused waters at Faywood Hot Springs is a must pre/post visiting City of the Rock since it is so close. I really got into hot springs after visiting the amazing Pagosa Springs in Colorado (home to the world’s deepest hot springs).

Faywood is located in the middle of nowhere so not all all busy like other popular NM tourism spots like Truth or Consequences. It is home to several natural mineral pools. Each varies in temperature between 100 to 105 degrees. Hot springs have long been sought by various peoples as a means to heal various illness and soothe joint and muscle aches. They were once cherished by the ancients for their healing powers. If you have never soaked in a hot springs before, you are in for a real treat! The temps here are perfect too: not too hot, nor cold.

Relief comes forth from a combination of intense soothing heat and a natural infusion of desirable minerals. Most notably, magnesium, silica, sodium, and potassium. Whether or not any of your ailments go away, it sure is relaxing to soak here especially on a cool New Mexico fall/winter day. Surprisingly, a summer visit is still comfortable due to the dry air and the ample shade coverage.

It’s usually pretty peaceful here as it is located in the middle of a desolate desert area. However, you have the option of renting a private pool if you would like more privacy.

Distance from Silver City: 40 minutes

Pricing: Varies. Check the website for individual pool pricing.

Catwalk National Recreation Site

The discovery of gold and silver in the Mogollon mountains near Glenwood, NM led to the formation of the Catwalk. The name was given to the wooden plankway which was built to transport water to the ore processing plant.

The Catwalk National Recreation area is a bit out of the way at just under an hour and a half from Silver City. That being said, it’s still well worth a visit to see this gorgeous whitewater creek in the middle of the desert. It’s worth seeing these weird places while you have the opportunity in my opinion. The drive over is beautiful and totally deserted as well, not to mention much closer than the all day time commitment required to see the cliff dwellings.

Due to a fire and flooding, the rebuilt trail (which used to be several miles) is now only open for 1/2 mile. Don’t worry – it’s still beautiful as you stroll past tall canyons and look down below at the flowing creek and small waterfalls. To make the trail longer, you can continue on at your own risk along a scenic, non maintained trail.

There are a number of nice shady picnicking areas around so pack your own lunch! Bear Mountain Lodge offers pre-made lunches to take on the go. There are not many dining options around here as the area is pretty remote. To make your lengthy drive more worthwhile, add on a side trip to the ghost town of Mogollon.

Distance from Silver City: 1 hour, 20 min

Price: $3 per car

Chiricahua National Monument

Chiricahua is one of the hidden gems of Arizona. I would put this one my list of weirdest places I’ve visited since moving here. I loved seeing all the hoodoos and balancing rocks (a unique geologic feature in which massive rocks balance atop other rocks). The landscapes are so unique and interesting, really out-of-this-world. Although quite a day trip at almost 2.5 hours, it’s a stunning place that is well worth the drive and by far the best of the listed day trips.

This monument is appropriately nicknamed “the wonderland of rocks.” After a quick drive along the incredibly picturesque 8 mile paved drive, you will have no question as to the nickname. There are miles of gorgeous hikes, some easy, others intense half day adventures. The Masai Point Nature Trail and Echo Canyon Grottos are nice easy choices (no more than a mile) that still allow you to take in tremendous scenery. If you are not up for hiking, the scenic drive and numerous overlooks still make Chiricahua worthy of a visit.

It’s also a beautiful place to picnic and simply enjoy nature and wildlife. Birdwatching is very popular here as Southern Arizona is one of the top spots in the country to do so. You may have the rare opportunity to see black bear, javelina, or the rare coatimundi, a member of the raccoon family which is native to the Southwestern US states. Be sure to stop by the visitor’s center for more info on the plants and animals that call Chiricahua home.

Distance from Silver City: 2.5 hour (or a 1 hour detour if driving to/from Tucson)

Admission is free!

Why you should visit

Overall, I would consider this a wonderful weekend roadtrip from any of the hot Sonoran desert cities. Also, it’s a quick weekend escape from Albuquerque (another great city with a lot to offer) and Santa Fe. While I would not necessarily plan a flight out this way, it does make for cool & quiet escape for desert dwellers seeking a reasonably quick roadtrip.

It is an easy weekend destination for nearby cities like Tucson and Phoenix. With all the hiking trails and natural wonders in the area, you can continue to stay active during the hot summer season! It’s a great choice especially for those who love art and nature.

Spring and fall are the best months with plenty of 60-70 degree days which are just ideal for relaxing and recreation. On the other hand if you don’t mind the cold, winter is a great time to enjoy a good book by the roaring fireplace and relax in nearby Faywood Hot Springs.