Like most of New Mexico, the southwestern part is rich in human history. This byway blends antiquity with a mystical landscape. The drive starts just off I-25 at exit 63, about 2½ hours south of Albuquerque. Heading west, the first point of interest is tiny Hillsboro. Once prosperous thanks to gold and silver mining, it’s now more of a living ghost town with shops, a couple of restaurants and numerous historic buildings. Then, the scenic byway climbs steeply into the Gila National Forest and eventually enters the Gila Wilderness. This area is so important that in 1924, it became the world’s first designated wilderness when the U.S. Forest Service set aside 755,000 acres. There’s evidence humans have been active here for more than 11,000 years. And the byway ends at the most significant example: Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. A trail leads into a canyon where the Mogollon people lived more than 700 years ago. Walking along cliff walls, the path leads into a series of caves where rock walls and ancient timbers define cooking, sleeping and storage areas. Most of the rooms were built in the 1280s but people sheltered in these caves much earlier. Why the Mogollon left the area around 1300 is unknown. And for drivers, the only way out is the way in. Heading south on NM 15, Silver City is 1½ hours away, providing all the modern conveniences.

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Keep in Mind

This national monument is one of the few sites that allows visitors to walk through cliff dwellings. So it’s important to not touch rocks or walls. And only take water. Pack rats are attracted to food scraps and drink spills!

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Best Time to Visit

The area is pretty temperate so year-round is fine although winter brings icy conditions to roads and the Gila Cliff Dwellings trail. The path itself is a one-mile loop that’s fairly easy; however it does get steep in places.