Silver City
Noted as of the of the 24 coolest towns in the USA, Silver City is a gem in Southwest New Mexico. Home to Western New Mexico State University, the small university town is surrounded by the exceptionally rugged Gila National Forest allowing for an abundance of notable outdoor adventure and forest recreation. The entire region is one of the most archeologically-rich in the entire US. It is less than 50 miles to the iconic Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Downtown Silver City features a vibrant historic district, art community, and dozens of annual festivals and events. The city’s name is derived from its robust mining industry, which remains active today.
Dining
Find your inner foodie by exploring all that Silver City’s Restaurants have to offer. A wide range of tasty and unique dining options will certainly satisfy even the most hungry traveler.
Grant County Airport
The easiest, fastest, and most affordable way to reach Silver City is by taking a semi-private flight via Advanced Air, an American scheduled commuter and private charter airline that flies directly into Silver City’s Grant County Airport from Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Albuquerque. Advanced Air has mastered luxury charter and semi-private flights to Silver City, allowing you to avoid TSA, steer clear of lines, and forget baggage fees. Cost is just $99 one way.
Gila National Forest
The Gila is 3.3 million acres of forested hills, majestic mountains and range land. The magnificent mountain scenery, cool summer temperatures and relatively warm winters permit a wide range of recreational opportunities during all seasons.
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
For thousands of years, groups of nomadic people used the caves of the Gila River as temporary shelter. In the late 1200's, people of the Mogollon Culture decided it would be a good place to call home. They built rooms, crafted pottery and raised children in the cliff dwellings for about twenty years. Then the Mogollon moved on, leaving us with this beautiful and historic national monument.
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
One of the largest conservation efforts in the history of the United States, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT)extends 3,100 miles from Canada to Mexico. The CDT encounters a multitude of ecosystems from tundra to desert, hosts a rich variety of wildlife, and preserves nearly two thousand natural, cultural, and historical treasures. Considered one of the greatest long-distance trails in the world, it is the highest, most challenging, and most remote National Scenic Trail.
Historic Downtown Silver City
Historic Downtown Silver City is a hub of art, culture, eateries, and events. The district balances historic era frontier buildings, while also engaging in more contemporary and colorful art forms. The town boasts three historic residential districts immediately adjacent to the historic downtown district.
Silver City Museum
Opened in 1967, the Silver City Museum is supported by the Silver City Museum Society and The Institute of Museum and Library Services. Housed in the restored 1881 Mansard/Italianate H.B Ailman House, the museum collection resource materials include some 20,000 objects relating to the peoples and history of southwest New Mexico.
Western New Mexico University
Founded in 1893, Western New Mexico University offers more than 70 areas of study. The WNMU campus, home to 3,500+ students, is a hybrid of registered historic buildings and modern facilities. The 80-acre campus includes over 40 buildings with four residence halls, a nearly 1,000 seat Fine Arts Center Theater, swimming pool and football field.
Catwalk Recreation Area
The drive from Silver City to the Catwalk is a scenic trip. Highway 180 curves and rolls along the foothills of the Mogollon Mountains, a sky bound fortress of peaks cut by deep, craggy canyons. In the village of Glenwood you turn off the highway and five miles up the valley the road ends where the Catwalk narrows begin. There’s a beautiful National Forest picnic area shaded by giant Sycamore trees along the banks of Whitewater Creek and educational signage about the history and geology.
Silver City Mining District
Silver City itself is the hub of a half-dozen mining districts. Located in southwestern New Mexico at an elevation of 5,900 feet in the southern foothills of the Mogollon Mountains, Silver City is home to robust mining industry and geological history.
City of Rocks State Park
Formed of volcanic ash welded together 35 million years ago, then sculpted by wind and water into rows of monolithic blocks, these incredible rock formations give City of Rocks its name. Hiking trails, a botanical garden and a public night sky observatory add to this unique destination.
