Journey Back Into The Past With A Drive Down This Little-Known Byway In New Mexico
By Monica Spencer|Published October 20, 2020
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Monica Spencer
Author
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
There’s no feeling quite like hitting the open road with your windows down to explore New Mexico’s epic scenery. The Land of Enchantment is home to a substantial number of scenic drives that allow you to tour the state’s landscape conveniently from the comfort of your car. If you’ve already driven most of New Mexico’s more famous routes, then you’ll want to check out the Lake Valley Backcountry Byway.
Located in the arid landscape of southern New Mexico, the Lake Valley Backcountry Byway is a brief but fascinating journey through a section of the state that has been all but forgotten.
Compared to the upcoming scenes on the drive, this area is an oasis and gives you an idea of how fragile and difficult life in the desert was decades ago. The riparian environment is lush in some areas and you get those beautiful sweeping mountain views before heading west.
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Driving west on State Route 152, your first stop is 30 minutes later at Hillsboro.
This tiny town is a charming find with its modest population (just over 120) and historic buildings. Hillsboro was founded as a gold mining town in 1877 and quickly grew into a bustling boomtown that specialized in supplying the nearby mine and Kingston.
We suggest planning a stop here to check out some of the history that continues to thrive here by embarking on a self-guided walking tour through town. Visit the Black Range Museum, grab a slice of pie at the General Store Cafe, or enjoy a wine tasting at Black Range Vineyards.
Lake Valley was a prosperous mining town back in the 1870s but these days it is 100-percent a ghost town. Its last remaining residents relocated to Deming in the mid-1990s and the town has turned into an isolated specter of its former self.
Between the dilapidated buildings and stretch of mountain views, you'll also spot a few charming finds.
One of those is the restored school house and humble chapel that can be visited on a self-guided tour.
The Lake Valley Backcountry Byway measures approximately 48 miles from Caballo Lake State Park to the ghost towns of Hillsboro and Lake Valley. For details, you can find a map and an informational video about the byway on the New Mexico tourism or Bureau of Land Management websites.
