Water

Lake Roberts, courtesy of Tom Maxfeldt

“In one drop of water are found all the secrets of the oceans.” –Kahlil Gibran

Although the southwest is not often thought about in terms of its water resources, the fact is that there are plenty of ways to explore water in the Grant County area and nearby! Thanks to the watershed of the Gila Wilderness, as well as lots of underground thermal activity we are blessed with numerous opportunities to enjoy water here: lakes, rivers, streams, cienegas and hot springs. We also have a delightful “monsoon” season in July and August, with late afternoon rains that water the earth and usually end in time for a pleasant evening out!

LAKES:

Our lakes are small but delightful to explore. The largest in the area is Lake Roberts, which is just over an hour’s drive from Silver City (off of  Highway 15, the road that continues to the Cliff Dwellings) and easily accessible. Another popular lake is Bill Evans Lake, about a half hour northwest of Silver City off of Highway 180. Bear Canyon Lake is not far from Highway 35 in the Mimbres valley.

RIVERS AND STREAMS:

The Gila River is last free flowing river in New Mexico, with its headwaters near the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Geronimo is said to have been born near these headwaters. It flows through some very rugged parts of the Gila Wilderness as it heads westward, eventually passing through the small towns of Cliff and Gila and before it continues on through the Burro Mountains and eventually into Arizona. It offers opportunities for kayaking, canoeing and whitewater rafting.

HOT SPRINGS:

Thanks to a wealth of geothermal activity, southwestern New Mexico has many hot springs, ranging from out-of-the-way springs you’ll need to hike into to ones within an easy drive, from primitive to luxurious. With our mild climate, hot springs can be enjoyed nearly all year round.

FISHING:

Yes, we do have fishing here! In the above mentioned lakes and rivers there are opportunities to catch smallmouth bass, catfish and trout. The Gila National Forest is the only place in the world that a person can catch the Gila Trout, which is on the threatened species list and is considered the most rare trout species in the United States. There are special restrictions when fishing for Gila Trout in New Mexico.