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Silver City, New Mexico sits at the edge of one of the wildest and most varied hiking regions in the Southwest. The surrounding Gila National Forest combines high desert, ponderosa pine forests, volcanic mountains, deep river canyons, hot springs, historic sites, and vast stretches of designated wilderness. Trails begin almost directly from town while longer day trips reach deep into the Gila Wilderness, giving hikers an unusual range of landscapes from a single home base. Whether visitors want a short family walk, a forested mountain climb, or a rugged backcountry adventure, Silver City provides access to all three.
To the north, the road through Pinos Altos leads toward mountain ridges, the Continental Divide, and eventually the Gila Cliff Dwellings and upper Gila River. East of town, Fort Bayard contains an extensive network of trails through grasslands, juniper woodland, and forest, while Little Walnut provides additional hiking only minutes from Silver City. Farther into the wilderness, the Middle and West Forks of the Gila River carve spectacular canyons through volcanic country and provide access to natural hot springs and remote backcountry. Few Southwestern hiking destinations combine cultural history, flowing rivers, desert scenery, mountain forests, and genuine wilderness as completely as the country surrounding Silver City.
1. BOSTON HILL TRAIL SYSTEM (SILVER CITY)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Rising immediately above Silver City, Boston Hill gives visitors the opportunity to start hiking without leaving town. A network of interconnected trails crosses open hillsides, historic mining country, and elevated ridges with broad views over Silver City and the surrounding mountains. Multiple entrances and route combinations make it easy to create anything from a short morning walk to a longer exploration of the entire open-space system.
2. BIG TREE TRAIL (FORT BAYARD)
Difficulty: Easy. The Big Tree Trail provides one of the most approachable hikes in the Fort Bayard trail system east of Silver City. The route crosses open country and woodland before reaching an enormous old juniper that has become one of the area's recognizable natural landmarks. Its short distance and gentle terrain make this a particularly good choice for families or visitors looking for an easy introduction to the landscape around Silver City.
3. OLD HIGHWAY 260 TRAIL (FORT BAYARD)
Difficulty: Easy. Following part of an abandoned highway route, this broad trail provides an easy walk through the open country surrounding historic Fort Bayard. Gradual elevation gain produces views across the former fort, nearby grasslands, and the mountains rising beyond the valley. The trail can also be combined with Twin Sisters Creek for hikers who want to turn a simple walk into a longer loop.
4. DRAGONFLY LOOP TRAIL (FORT BAYARD)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Dragonfly Loop combines high-desert scenery with one of the area's most interesting cultural features. The trail travels through piñon-juniper woodland, washes, grassland, and rocky terrain before reaching ancient petroglyphs that include the distinctive dragonfly image for which the trail is named. It is short enough for a relaxed outing while offering considerably more variety than a typical easy trail.
5. TWIN SISTERS CREEK TRAIL (FORT BAYARD)
Difficulty: Moderate. Twin Sisters Creek explores a more rugged side of the Fort Bayard trail system as it weaves in and out of the drainage beneath the surrounding hills. The changing terrain creates a mixture of open views, rocky sections, grasslands, and creek-bottom vegetation that feels surprisingly removed from nearby communities. Connections with other Fort Bayard trails allow hikers to extend the route or create several different loops.
6. GOMEZ PEAK TRAIL (LITTLE WALNUT)
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous. Only a few miles north of Silver City, the Gomez Peak area provides a quick transition from town into the pine-covered foothills of the Gila National Forest. The climb toward Gomez Peak is substantially more demanding than most of the surrounding Little Walnut trails and rewards hikers with elevated views across the Silver City area and surrounding mountain country. An interconnected trail network also makes it possible to shorten or extend the outing depending on experience and available time.
7. CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL VIA DIVIDE ACCESS TRAIL (LITTLE WALNUT)
Difficulty: Moderate. Hikers do not have to travel deep into the backcountry to step onto one of America's great long-distance trails. The Divide Access Trail connects the Little Walnut and Gomez Peak system with the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail just outside Silver City. Visitors can follow a portion of the CDT through forested and mountainous terrain before turning around, making this an excellent way to experience the famous trail without committing to a long-distance hike.
8. SIGNAL PEAK TRAIL (PINOS ALTOS RANGE)
Difficulty: Strenuous. Signal Peak provides one of the strongest summit hikes close to Silver City and climbs through ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir forest toward a fire lookout high in the Pinos Altos Range. The route gains elevation steadily before reaching the upper ridge, where views expand toward the Black Range, Mogollon Mountains, and enormous stretches of the Gila National Forest. It is a demanding hike, but the combination of mountain forest and panoramic summit scenery makes it one of the area's most rewarding climbs.
9. TADPOLE RIDGE TRAIL (GILA NATIONAL FOREST)
Difficulty: Very Strenuous. Tadpole Ridge is a considerably bigger undertaking for hikers looking for a long and remote mountain day. The trail follows elevated country overlooking the Gila, alternating between forest, rocky ridges, and exposed sections with expansive views across southwestern New Mexico. Limited water and the length of the route make this best suited to experienced hikers comfortable traveling in backcountry terrain.
10. CLIFF DWELLER TRAIL (GILA CLIFF DWELLINGS)
Difficulty: Moderate. This short trail combines hiking with one of southwestern New Mexico's most remarkable cultural sites. The loop climbs through a narrow canyon and several ecological zones before reaching caves containing centuries-old Mogollon cliff dwellings built high above the valley floor. Uneven stone steps and a noticeable climb make the trail more demanding than its approximately one-mile length suggests, but few hikes in the region offer a comparable combination of landscape and history.
11. TRAIL TO THE PAST (GILA CLIFF DWELLINGS AREA)
Difficulty: Easy. Near Lower Scorpion Campground, this short trail provides another opportunity to explore the human history of the upper Gila without undertaking a difficult hike. One branch reaches an ancient dwelling tucked into a small canyon while another leads toward a panel of pictographs created by people who lived in the region long ago. It is an excellent family-friendly addition to a day spent exploring the Gila Cliff Dwellings area.
12. MIDDLE FORK TRAIL TO LIGHTFEATHER HOT SPRINGS (GILA WILDERNESS)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Beginning near the Gila Visitor Center, the Middle Fork Trail quickly enters a dramatic river canyon and reaches Lightfeather Hot Springs after several crossings of the Gila River. Towering volcanic walls, flowing water, and lush riparian vegetation make the short hike feel far more adventurous than its distance would suggest. The spring emerges extremely hot, so visitors should use caution around the source and remember that changing river conditions can make crossings considerably more difficult.
13. LITTLE BEAR CANYON TRAIL (GILA WILDERNESS)
Difficulty: Moderate. From the TJ Corral trailhead, Little Bear Canyon begins in open piñon-juniper country before dropping into an increasingly narrow and dramatic canyon. Rock walls close around the route as hikers travel toward the Middle Fork of the Gila River, creating one of the most memorable canyon hikes in the region. The combination of open high-desert terrain, volcanic formations, and narrow canyon scenery gives this trail several distinct personalities in a single outing.
14. WEST FORK GILA RIVER TRAIL (GILA WILDERNESS)
Difficulty: Moderate. Beginning near the Gila Cliff Dwellings, the West Fork Trail follows the river directly into the Gila Wilderness beneath towering canyon walls. Numerous river crossings, cottonwoods, ponderosa forest, volcanic cliffs, and quiet pools create a classic Gila hiking experience with very little sustained climbing. Hikers can choose their own turnaround point, making the route adaptable for a shorter day hike or a much longer wilderness adventure.
15. STOCK BYPASS LOOP (TJ CORRAL)
Difficulty: Moderate. The Stock Bypass Loop provides an excellent middle-distance alternative for hikers who want to experience Gila backcountry without committing to one of the area's major routes. Beginning at TJ Corral, the trail crosses rolling upland terrain before descending toward the West Fork of the Gila River and eventually reaching the Cliff Dwellings area. Forest, dry canyon country, river scenery, and several different trail environments make this a particularly varied half-day outing.
16. WOODY'S CORRAL TO EE CANYON LOOP (GILA WILDERNESS)
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous. This loop climbs from Woody's Corral toward higher ridges before turning into remote EE Canyon and eventually descending to the West Fork of the Gila. Rocky outcrops and broad views dominate the upper portion of the route, while the final section adds forest, canyon walls, and repeated river crossings. The variety of terrain makes this one of the strongest choices for experienced day hikers who want a substantial taste of the wilderness without planning an overnight trip.
17. WEST FORK LOOP (GILA WILDERNESS)
Difficulty: Strenuous. The West Fork Loop links river canyon, high ridges, forest, and open wilderness into one of the most complete day hikes near the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Portions of the route climb well above the river, providing expansive views before eventually descending into the West Fork canyon for the return. River crossings, route finding, changing trail conditions, and significant mileage make this a hike for experienced backcountry travelers rather than casual visitors.
18. JORDAN HOT SPRINGS VIA LITTLE BEAR CANYON (GILA WILDERNESS)
Difficulty: Strenuous. Jordan Hot Springs sits deep within the Gila Wilderness and requires a long journey through Little Bear Canyon and along the Middle Fork of the Gila River. Hikers encounter narrow canyon walls and numerous river crossings before reaching a large natural warm spring surrounded by remote wilderness. The roughly seven-mile trip each way makes this a serious day hike for strong hikers and an appealing overnight backpacking destination for visitors who want a deeper Gila experience.
19. CATWALK NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL (GLENWOOD)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. West of Silver City near Glenwood, the Catwalk follows Whitewater Canyon on an extraordinary route suspended in places directly above the creek. Bridges and elevated walkways pass beneath narrow canyon walls while flowing water and riparian vegetation create an environment completely different from the open country around Silver City. The developed portion is accessible to a wide range of visitors, while hikers wanting a longer outing can continue farther into Whitewater Canyon.
20. MINERAL CREEK TRAIL TO COONEY (MOGOLLON AREA)
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous. Mineral Creek combines remote canyon hiking with the remains of southwestern New Mexico's mining history. The trail follows rugged country toward the historic Cooney mining area, where stone ruins and remnants of former settlement appear within an otherwise isolated mountain landscape. Its distance and remoteness make this a more serious undertaking, but hikers looking for something completely different from the river trails and forested peaks near Silver City will find one of the region's most unusual adventures.
Silver City combines high desert, mountain forests, archaeological sites, historic mining country, river canyons, natural hot springs, and enormous wilderness areas into one unusually diverse hiking destination. Visitors can spend several days exploring the region without repeating the same type of trail, moving from easy walks near town to remote routes deep within the Gila Wilderness. With Fort Bayard and Little Walnut close to town, the Pinos Altos Mountains directly north, and the upper Gila River farther into the backcountry, Silver City provides a remarkable home base for discovering one of the Southwest's less crowded hiking regions.