Grant County: Nature, Trails and History

Grant County brings together a range of travel interests: paddling, trails and nature watching alongside museums, historic districts and events. Each place and activity has its own focus. When planning, you can first decide whether you want to prioritize time outdoors, cultural subjects or both.

Nature, Water and Trails

The Gila River in western Grant County is suitable for paddling. The Aldo Leopold Wilderness extends partly into the county. City of Rocks State Park offers a different experience, with volcanic rock spires rising up to 40 feet. The park also offers opportunities for birdwatching and stargazing. Grant County has diverse, species-rich communities of wildlife, birds and other ecological communities.

The Continental Divide Trail runs through Grant County. In designated wilderness areas, human activities are limited to hiking, camping, horseback riding and non-motorized use. In Silver City, Boston Hill has a maintained unpaved trail. These trails and areas have different characteristics: one trail runs through the county, while specific uses apply to the designated wilderness areas.

Lake Roberts and Bill Evans Reservoir are both multi-use recreation areas with a boat launch. You can distinguish the named waterways by the activities described: the Gila River is suitable for paddling, while each of the two recreation areas has a boat launch.

Historic Places and Museums

Fort Bayard was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 2004. The Silver City Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, and the Pinos Altos Historic District in 1984. Pinos Altos was Grant County’s first county seat; its town center lies on the Continental Divide in the Gila National Forest. These historic designations and dates provide different points of reference if you are interested in the history of the places.

The Silver City Museum is housed in a historic three-story Victorian home in downtown Silver City. The museum also has additional exhibition galleries and a gift shop. Its collection includes more than 50,000 historic objects and documents. The University Museum at Western New Mexico University houses the world’s largest permanent collection of Mimbres pottery. The WNMU Museum is located on Western New Mexico University’s main campus in Silver City.

The history of Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument also offers a specific point of reference in time: in the late 13th century, people of the Mogollon culture lived there in caves above Cliff Dweller Creek. The visitor center contains a small museum with Mogollon artifacts from the cliff dwellings and surrounding region. Alongside historic districts and museum collections, early settlement history and archaeological finds are also cultural topics to explore.

Events and Bathing Options

Grant County hosts the Tommy Knocker bike races and the Tour of the Gila bike race. Annual events include arts and cultural festivals, as well as rodeos and agricultural events. These events encompass both bike races and a range of cultural and agricultural themes; specific dates are not provided here.

Faywood Hot Springs offers geothermal mineral-water baths in private and communal bathing areas. Four private pools can be rented by the hour. Reservation conditions may change, so check them before planning. This lets you distinguish between the private pools and communal bathing areas without assuming the terms of use for either.

Discover more destinations: Silver City, Guadalupe County, Mora County, Curry, Otero County, De Baca County, Rio Arriba County, Los Alamos

For the broader travel overview: New Mexico.