Silver City
Around Silver City
Photo: Matthew.kowal · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · New Mexico · 27k people
Silver City
Locals say Grant County · “The City of Silver”, “Gateway to the Gila”
Where the desert meets the pines, and the chile is always green.
PurpleSilverCopper
Welcome to Grant County, where the Gila meets the high desert. Whether you're here for the trails, the art, or the green chile, you'll find a community that loves the outdoors and a good story. Settle in, grab a coffee, and explore the historic streets of Silver City.
Clubs for Silver City
No clubs for Silver City yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Silver City. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Silver City. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Historic Downtown Silver City Victorian-era storefronts, galleries, and the Big Ditch
- Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Mogollon cliff dwellings in a dramatic canyon
- The Catwalk Narrow walkway bolted to canyon walls along Whitewater Creek
- Pinos Altos Old mining town with saloons, opera house, and summer concerts
- Gila National Forest Vast wilderness with hot springs, canyons, and wildlife
- City of Rocks State Park Volcanic rock formations and dark-sky stargazing
- Outdoors Hike the Gila Wilderness
- Outdoors Soak in the Gila Hot Springs
- With kids Visit the Silver City Museum
- With kids Tour the Gila Cliff Dwellings
- Evenings Catch a show at the El Sol Theatre
- Evenings Listen to live music at a local brewery
- Locals love coffee shops
- Locals love art galleries
Through the year
- Grant County Fair September Livestock, rodeo, and carnival in September
- Silver City Blues Festival May Outdoor blues concerts in May
- Tour of the Gila April/May Multistage bicycle race through the county
- Gila River Festival September River walks, talks, and art in September
- Silver City Clay Festival June Workshops and exhibitions in June
Silver City enjoys a mild four-season climate at 6,000 feet. Best: Spring and fall are ideal with warm days and cool nights.
Talk like a local
- “Gila”
- The national forest and wilderness area, pronounced HEE-la
- “The Big Ditch”
- The historic flood control channel in downtown Silver City
- “Pinos Altos”
- The old mining town of Pinos Altos, pronounced PEE-nos AL-tos
- “Mimbres”
- The valley and pottery style, pronounced MIM-bres
Getaways
- Deming Rockhound State Park and the Deming Luna Mimbres Museum
- Las Cruces Old Mesilla, farmers market, and Organ Mountains
- El Paso Franklin Mountains, El Paso Zoo, and Mission Trail
- Alamogordo White Sands National Park and New Mexico Museum of Space History
Local flavour
Teams
- Western New Mexico University Mustangs NCAA Division II
Also rooting for Western New Mexico University Mustangs (NCAA Division II), New Mexico State Aggies (NCAA Division I, from Las Cruces), UTEP Miners (NCAA Division I, from El Paso)
Eat and drink
- Green chile stew A New Mexican staple, often made with pork and green chiles
- Enchiladas with red or green chile Stacked or rolled, smothered in chile sauce
- Sopaipillas Fried pastry served with honey, a classic New Mexican dessert
- Blake's Lotaburger A beloved New Mexico fast-food chain known for green chile cheeseburgers
Where people go
- Historic downtown Silver City Victorian-era buildings, art galleries, and the Silver City Museum
- Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Ancient Mogollon cliff dwellings in the Gila Wilderness
- The Catwalk A scenic trail along a narrow canyon in the Gila National Forest
- Pinos Altos A historic mining town with a saloon and summer concerts
Heritage and traditions
Silver City and Grant County are proud of their Wild West mining history, a vibrant arts community, and the Gila Wilderness—the first designated wilderness in the U.S.—which together create a unique blend of frontier spirit and creative, outdoor-loving culture.
This time of year in Silver City
- Green chile roasting season Fall Fresh chile is roasted over open flames, a fragrant local ritual.
- Pinos Altos Old West Days October Re-enactments and music in the historic mining town.
- Silver City Farmers Market Saturday mornings, spring–fall Local produce, crafts, and live music in downtown.
Say it like a local: “Monsoon” — Summer afternoon thunderstorms, a local weather pattern.
Festivals
- Red Dot Art Walk Monthly First Friday of each month, local galleries open their doors for an evening of art and community.
- Pinos Altos Old West Days October Re-enactments and music in the historic mining town.
- Lordsburg Watermelon Festival August A small-town celebration of watermelon with games and food.
- Christmas Lighted Parade December Downtown Silver City glows with festive floats and lights.
- Gila Earth Day April Celebrates the Gila with activities, music, and conservation talks.
- Silver City Farmers Market Saturday mornings, spring–fall Local produce, crafts, and live music in downtown.
Landmarks with a story
- Fort Bayard Historic Site Established in 1866 to protect settlers, now a historic landmark.
- Mimbres Culture Heritage Site Preserves the ancient Mimbres pottery and dwellings.
- Silco Theater A beautifully restored 1920s movie palace in downtown Silver City.
- Pinos Altos Opera House A 19th-century venue still hosting performances.
Food traditions
- Green chile roasting In late summer and fall, locals roast fresh green chile over open flames, filling the air with a smoky aroma.
- Tamales at Christmas Families gather to make and share tamales during the holiday season.
- Biscochitos Anise-flavored cookies, the official state cookie, served at celebrations.
- Posole A hominy stew often enjoyed on New Year's Day for good luck.
- Breakfast burritos A morning staple with eggs, potatoes, and green chile wrapped in a tortilla.
Music and arts
- Visual arts scene A thriving community of painters, sculptors, and photographers with monthly art walks.
- Mimbres pottery Ancient black-on-white pottery designs, a unique regional art form.
- Local blues and folk music Live music venues and festivals celebrate roots music.
- Historic Silco Theater A venue for films, concerts, and community events.
A little history
- 1870 Silver City founded as a mining town
- 1866 Fort Bayard established
- 1924 Gila Wilderness designated as the first wilderness area in the U.S.
- 1930s The Catwalk built as a water pipeline
- 200–1150 AD Mimbres culture flourished in the region
Rivalries
- Western New Mexico vs. Eastern New Mexico College football and basketball matchups
- Silver High vs. Cobre High High school football rivalry
- Grant County vs. Luna County County fair livestock competitions
- Game day Cycling culture
- Game day Hiking the Gila Wilderness
- Outdoors Birdwatching at the Gila Bird Area
- Outdoors Horseback riding in the Gila National Forest
- With kids Visit the Gila National Forest Visitor Center
- With kids Explore the downtown murals
People speak with a Southwestern accent, often mixing Spanish words like 'bueno' and 'gracias'. The Gila is pronounced 'HEE-la', Mimbres as 'MIM-brays', and Pinos Altos as 'PEE-nos AL-tos'. Locals commonly ask 'red or green?' when ordering chile and refer to 'the Gila' for the forest or wilderness.
Only here
- The Gila Wilderness is the first designated wilderness area in the U.S. (1924).
- The Catwalk is a narrow walkway suspended in a canyon, built for a water pipeline.
- Mimbres pottery is found only in this region, with distinctive geometric designs.
- The Continental Divide runs through the county, a major watershed boundary.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce Gila as 'HEE-la' and Mimbres as 'MIM-brays'.
- Hydrate: you're at 6,000 feet, so drink plenty of water.
- Always ask 'red or green?' when ordering chile—it's a local ritual.
- Be ready for monsoon storms in July and August, with quick downpours.
- Downtown Silver City is walkable; park and explore on foot.
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Nearby
Every areaBootheelNew MexicoOpen skies and quiet roadsDemingNew MexicoA friendly stop on the old Butterfield TrailGreenlee CountyArizonaHeart of the Copper CorridorSaffordArizonaDesert gold, mountain air, and a valley that feels like home.Las CrucesNew MexicoCrossroads of the desert, where chile is a way of life.Apache CountyArizonaWhere the desert sky meets the spirit of the NavajoEl PasoTexasSun, mountains, and a warm border welcome.AlamogordoNew MexicoSunny days, starry nights, and a whole lot of sky.
Silver City, NM. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.