Southwest New Mexico is home to several mountain ranges originating from volcanism that occurred over 25 million years ago. According to author Robert Julyan who wrote The Mountains of New Mexico, the volcanic activity in this part of New Mexico makes Mt. Saint Helens seem like a candle’s small flame.

The major range groups that make up Silver City’s backyard include the Mogollons, the Black Range, Pinos Altos Range and the Burro Mountains. The highest point in this part of New Mexico is Whitewater Baldy (altitude: 10,895 ft). The highest point in the Black Range is McKnight Mountain (10,165 ft). Snow visits these highest areas of each range regularly in winter.

Other minor mountain ranges in our area include: The Silver City Range, Diablo Range, Elk Mountains, Tularosa Mountains, San Francisco Mountains, Brushy Mountains, Saliz Mountains, and the Sierra Aguilada. The moutain ranges listed are enclosed in the vast untrampled Gila National Forest. It boasts the world’s first wilderness designation and two of the largest wildernesses in New Mexico: the Gila and Aldo Leopold Wildernesses.

For those interested in ecohousing, a group of Silver City residents are planning a community in the silver city area: We are a planning group dedicated to creating an eco-cohousing community in Silver City, New Mexico. We are a small, dedicated group that has been meeting for two and a half years. Read More

The New Mexico Game and Fish Department has created the New Mexico Birding Trail which covers 40 sites in southwest New Mexico. It can be viewed in PDF format and is broken up by sites. A preview of the introduction follows: We have chosen more than 40 sites of the most attractive birding locations throughout [...]

GORP.com, a place for outdoor enthusiasts to plan hiking, camping, and national parks focused vacations in the US and worldwide, writes a nice article about the Gila National Forest and it’s recreational opportunities: The Gila in southwestern New Mexico is a cauldron of colliding ecosystems; the Chihuahuan Desert, the Sonoran Desert, the Rocky Mountains, the [...]

According to the authors of Rockhounding New Mexico, our state and particularly southwest New Mexico is outstanding for rock collecting. In their book, our corner of the state boasts 71 of the listed 140 sites for the best rockhounding. The publisher’s own book description is posted below. The title link below takes you to the [...]

Aldo Leopold Vista just south of Glenwood shows the rugged Mogollon Mountains. The Gila River just south of Gila-Cliff by the old US 180 bridge with fall colors.

Lake Roberts is a small picturesque man made lake in the Gila National Forest. Private cabins, cabin rentals, a motel and a general store are all some folks need for fun. The National Forest also provides two self paying campgrounds with modern hookups. There is fishing and non-motorized boating on the lake.

This photo slideshow features the communities of Tyrone and White Signal. Both are located on NM 90 southwest of Silver City. Tyrone is a quiet, well kept “suburban” subdivision town located just 5 miles south of Silver City. It has a community center, post office and nice parks. The homes are ranch style and modest. [...]

Pinos Altos is a small mountain community just north of Silver City, NM in the Pinos Altos Range. It straddles the continental divide and sits at 7000 ft above sea level. Funky architecture gives this community additional character. Pretty views in every direction makes this area quite desirable.

The main community in the eastern mining district of Grant County. Groceries, restaurants, Coffee, DMV, two banks, lumber – hardware and community center are among the conveniences Bayard provides.