S-New Mexico, SE Arizona off road /BLM suggestions etc

[ctb]

Hey fellow SMB'rs, used the 'search' for suggestions for southern New Mexico and SE Arizona road trip…found a few but not many others… looking at the Atlas... Gila Natl Forest, Cibola Natl. Forest in NM, then Coronado in SE Arizona…we are heading for a ten day loop from IA...anybody with pictures, suggestions, and/or insight would be GREAT!! Will trip report when back! Thanks in advance!

[JayBea]

Hey ctb, you'r coming into my backyard!

So, you've got to check out Silver City. If you come by I-25 from Albuquerque, use NM152. It will take you over the Black Range through Hillsborough and Kingston. A longer but more adventurous way would be US60 from Socorro to Datil (visit the VLA and camp at Datil Wells) then NM12 through Reserve (camp at Apache Creek) and then US180 to Silver. There are many FS roads into the Gila along this route. If you want 4WD adventure take NM52 (dirt) south from US60 through Dusty then NM59 to near Beaverhead and FR150 south to the Mimbres Valley and NM35 to NM90. (Whew! better get a map!)

Checkout Silver City, WNMU Museum, SC Museum, downtown SC. Only GOOD place to stay is the KOA (owned it for 20 years!). Then from there you can checkout the Gila Cliff Dwellings (good camping), the City of Rocks (good camping), Faywood Hotsprings (OK camping).

In SE AZ you've got Cochise Stronghold (good camping), Chirichua NM (good camping), Ft. Bowie and (if you get this far west, Roosevelt Lake (my favorite!).
If you want to travel north when you leave, travel up US191 from Morenci through Alpine. Great boondock camping all the way.

I find it a pain to upload photos but you'll find many in our blog http://www.travelsofthemercury.blogspot.com. If you need more info, PM me!

Have Fun
JIM

[BrianW]

We loved Chaco Canyon National Park (Monument?). Amazing native American ruins that you can actually walk through, and a very remote location, too. There's an established campground there, but it's small and quiet, and pretty much in the middle of nowhere. The 20+ mile washboard dirt road keeps out all but the determined. Definitely worth a visit.

It's SW of Santa Fe.

[ctb]

Originally Posted by JayBea

Hey ctb, you'r coming into my backyard!

So, you've got to check out Silver City. If you come by I-25 from Albuquerque, use NM152. It will take you over the Black Range through Hillsborough and Kingston. A longer but more adventurous way would be US60 from Socorro to Datil (visit the VLA and camp at Datil Wells) then NM12 through Reserve (camp at Apache Creek) and then US180 to Silver. There are many FS roads into the Gila along this route. If you want 4WD adventure take NM52 (dirt) south from US60 through Dusty then NM59 to near Beaverhead and FR150 south to the Mimbres Valley and NM35 to NM90. (Whew! better get a map!)

Checkout Silver City, WNMU Museum, SC Museum, downtown SC. Only GOOD place to stay is the KOA (owned it for 20 years!). Then from there you can checkout the Gila Cliff Dwellings (good camping), the City of Rocks (good camping), Faywood Hotsprings (OK camping).

In SE AZ you've got Cochise Stronghold (good camping), Chirichua NM (good camping), Ft. Bowie and (if you get this far west, Roosevelt Lake (my favorite!).
If you want to travel north when you leave, travel up US191 from Morenci through Alpine. Great boondock camping all the way.

I find it a pain to upload photos but you'll find many in our blog http://www.travelsofthemercury.blogspot.com. If you need more info, PM me!

Have Fun
JIM

Thanks Jim!!!!!! I am printing this off as I write! This is exactly what we are looking for!! And Brian, if you are re-checking... Chaco ruins were on our "possible" list, but now for sure list! Thnks SMB squad! ALWAYS COMING THROUGH!!!!