Discover Hidalgo County

Travelers to Hidalgo County can experience the Chihuahua Desert as well as the Big Hatchet Mountains. These two natural features provide a clear framework for exploring the region: desert landscapes and mountains offer different perspectives. The higher-elevation mountains of Hidalgo County are known as “Sky Islands”; their plant and animal life differs from that of the surrounding desert. For nature enthusiasts, this contrast is a common thread. Rather than reducing the landscape to a single image, you can plan around the desert, mountain scenery, and wildlife watching.

Nature and Landscape

Visitors can go birdwatching in Hidalgo County. Birdwatching is an activity throughout the county, while the Continental Divide Trail runs directly through Lordsburg. These represent two different scales: a nature activity in Hidalgo County and a named route with a direct connection to Lordsburg. When comparing these interests during trip planning, you can distinguish countywide nature activities from a specific connection to a place.

The Desert Botanical Garden at the Chiricahua Desert Museum offers another distinct nature experience. The garden is home to native plants and animals, and admission is free for visitors. This makes it a well-defined option for anyone who wants to focus on native nature. In the museum itself, visitors can see live reptiles and explore Apache history. Two clearly different interests come together here: observing live reptiles and learning about Apache history.

Culture and History

The Lordsburg-Hidalgo County Library in Lordsburg was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. From 1942 to 1945, Camp Lordsburg was an Army internment and prisoner-of-war camp. These are distinct historical reference points: the library’s story concerns its dated addition to a register, while Camp Lordsburg’s concerns its role as a camp during World War II. Thus, a historic register listing and the history of a military camp stand as separate topics.

In Rodeo, the Chiricahua Gallery presents works by local and regional artists and craftspeople from Arizona and New Mexico. It is housed in a historic building dating from 1910. Regional artists and craftspeople come together here with a building that has a clear historical date. For travelers who want to include art in their plans alongside nature, the gallery offers a distinct cultural perspective.

Places and Trip Planning

Lordsburg is also a point of reference for getting to the area: an Amtrak station there provides access to the surrounding region. If you are considering traveling by train, check the schedule for your travel dates. The Continental Divide Trail also runs directly through Lordsburg, so the station and the trail offer two different points of reference for getting oriented in town.

Short Park has 18 teeing areas and 9 baskets, which the public can use for free. These specific numbers and free public access give you a clear point of reference if you include this recreational amenity in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Lordsburg, San Juan, Mora County, Lincoln, De Baca County, Bernalillo, Quay, Guadalupe County

For the overall travel overview: New Mexico.