far west Texas/southeast New Mexico

Van Living Forum

Help Support Van Living Forum:

Morgana

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 18, 2021
Messages
1,082
Reaction score
1,165
For anyone with experience in the area: if you were to spend a day travelling between Canutillo, TX, and Hatch, NM, what side trips would you recommend?

The direct route is only 70 miles, so there's probably room for some pretty long side trips.

Right now I'm interested in personal favorites (that you're willing to share) rather than Google hits.

Thanks!
 

Morgana

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 18, 2021
Messages
1,082
Reaction score
1,165
Absolutely! I <3 Chaco.
The road in can be a bit challenging, depending on how recently it's been graded (or at least, used to be) -- but so worth it.
 

StacyK

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 30, 2019
Messages
103
Reaction score
63
Location
Westcliffe, CO, USA
I camped for a couple of weeks at the base of the Organ Mountains above Las Cruces and loved it— the National Monument has a Visitor’s Center with a lovely small garden (I was there in early November last year, and it was still going strong), free water, and picnic areas, but I’m not sure it would be worth a side trip per se. (The mountains are definitely worth it.) White Sands NP was a hoot and a half, and very accessible by vehicle, so a bum foot needn’t be a deterrent. The area has lots of pistachio orchards with little farm stands. It sticks in my mind that Tularosa has a museum with info on the “Downwinders” and impact of nuclear testing in the area.
 

rvwandering

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
Joined
Feb 6, 2011
Messages
5,291
Reaction score
523
Location
Somewhere in the US or Canada
Before you leave Canutillo take a side trip to Casa de Azucar. An amazing amount of creativity and years of work.

If you like museums there are a couple of good ones in Las Cruces, New Mexico. New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum and the Zuhl Museum. The Zuhls had a business selling petrified wood, fossils, minerals, and rocks. They sold their business but kept their personal collection of the best pieces which they donated to the museum.
 

txmnjim

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 21, 2019
Messages
477
Reaction score
53
Location
rochester, mn
the Gila Wilderness and Cliff Dwellings were really cool. fantastic drive from Silver City (the poor man's Taos)
i so want to get back to the area, and yes on Chaco as well.
 

VanFan

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2011
Messages
1,154
Reaction score
153
For anyone with experience in the area: if you were to spend a day travelling between Canutillo, TX, and Hatch, NM, what side trips would you recommend?

The direct route is only 70 miles, so there's probably room for some pretty long side trips.

Right now I'm interested in personal favorites (that you're willing to share) rather than Google hits.

Thanks!

For anyone with experience in the area: if you were to spend a day travelling between Canutillo, TX, and Hatch, NM, what side trips would you recommend?

The direct route is only 70 miles, so there's probably room for some pretty long side trips.

Right now I'm interested in personal favorites (that you're willing to share) rather than Google hits.

Thanks!
Truth or Consequences for a soak, and/or Faywood for a soak (although it looks like Faywood no longer offers day use). Neither is directly on that route, but possibly close enough for a side trip.
 

bigsallysmom

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Messages
565
Reaction score
8
Location
New Mexico
Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, NM. Sunspot Observatory in Sunspot south of Cloudcroft, NM. Valley of Fires Recreation Area on Highway 380 near Carrizozo. The Hubbard Museum of the American West in Ruidoso, NM.
 

Morgana

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 18, 2021
Messages
1,082
Reaction score
1,165
Thanks for all of these. Making a list and looking forward to it!
 

user 36413

Active member
Joined
Jan 2, 2023
Messages
33
Reaction score
22
If you use Freecampsites.net or iOverlander they can help with that a lot. Not really far west Texas but when I head back east after the RTR I plan to visit Magnolia Beach near Port Lavaca. It's 14 day free camping with toilets, waste receptacles, and I am told they even have showers albeit cold ones). I plan to check out the 14 day camping between it and the town of Magnolia beach as it's closer to town in case I need to run in to town for ice or something. If you are interested, google it for more info.

Have a great trip!

1672958573815.png
 

bullfrog

Well-known member
Joined
May 6, 2016
Messages
7,061
Reaction score
1,094
Texas State Parks on the coast used to offer fishing lessons and free fishing in the parks you may want to check out.
 

Morgana

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 18, 2021
Messages
1,082
Reaction score
1,165
Thanks again for all these tips. Adding a couple of carrots (or one carrot and one string bean) to the soup pot: Keystone Heritage Park in north El Paso has some nice walking paths, including both a wetlands and a desert botanical garden, how often do you find those in the same place? There's a weird "house maze" made out of stick fencing and some archaeological/historical stuff too. It's not quiet -- about a mile from I-10 -- but it's lovely and admission is only $2, $1 for seniors. Check your route on an up-to-date online map as there's some construction in the area. Then if you're heading north or west, stay on surface roads long enough to have lunch at the Little Diner in Canutillo. Good food (Mexican and general diner food), decent prices by today's standards, friendly wait staff, nice view of the Franklin Mountains. The road follows the old Camino Real. I imagine those 17th-century Spaniards would have a heart attack if they could see how it looks now. Heck, their horses would probably have heart attacks. But it's still a pretty cool road.
 
Top