Scampering Canines Go to Silver City, New Mexico
- Luie Boone
- Dec 20, 2025
- 9 min read
Updated: Dec 20, 2025
This travel spot is featured in our fifth blog series, Bowwows Belong.
Luie Boone loves scampering. He often times scampers around like an overgrown puppy, because that's exactly what he is: an overgrown puppy at thirteen-years-old. He scampers when he hears one of his hoomans coming home; he scampers after his tennis ball; and he most definitely scampers when he hears cookies being made. Who doesn't love cookies? So, don't even worry. Luie Boone will be one of the many scampering canines that visit Silver City, New Mexico!
However, Luie Boone needs to immediately make it clear that Silver City, New Mexico, is not made entirely of the mineral silver. Nah-uh, his hoomans told him. The area that the city was established on was originally home to an Apache campsite. In the summer of 1870, the area was named after silver because a silver ore deposit was found nearby by Captain John M. Bullard! You can visit the grave of town founder, Captain Bullard in Silver City. The discovery of this silver ore deposit led to the creation of a mining boom town established as a tent city, which is exactly how it sounds—a city made of tents.
The city was known for gun fighting during the 1870s. You might've heard of Harvey H. Whitehall, a sheriff of the American Old West. Sheriff Whitehall served the area of Silver City, and he became the first ever lawman to arrest the infamous Billy the Kid. If you've never heard of Billy the Kid, he was young gunfighter of the Old West, who was linked to nine murders! That is not company that Luie Boone would want to keep. Anyways, Sherif Whitehall arrested Billy the Kid not just once, but twice for the crime of theft in Silver City!
One more interesting historical tidbit about Silver City concerns the Mimbres Mogollon Indians. It is said that the Mimbres once lived in the area of Silver City. In fact, many of their archaeological sites are located throughout the area. Unfortunately, many of the prehistoric Mimbres sites have been damaged due to unlawful looting. Luie Boone, just like most pooches loves to dig, but he would never dig in a historic site!
Luie Boone cannot wait to visit the historic city of Silver City, New Mexico, and learn more about its background. He also cannot wait to explore the outdoors there. His hoomans say there is a trail called the San Vicente Trail, which begins right in town. This trail meanders through shaded riparian areas, climbing into grasslands and leading to ridge-top views!
There is also the Silver City Dog Park to visit! Luie Boone loves to visit the local dog parks, because there's always a good chance he'll meet a local pooch, who can bark all of the bark-lore to him. This dog park offers a safe, fenced-in space, where dogs can play, socialize, and burn off energy together. There's even chairs for the hoomans to sit in! Luie Boone says that's paw-some news, because his hoomans are lazy sometimes.
For a true wilderness experience, Luie Boone suggest visiting the nearby Gila National Forest. This national forest was established in 1905 and it encompasses over 2.7 million acres! That makes it the sixth largest national forest in the United States. Luie Boone reckons that he has a great sniffer, but he would not want to get lost in that forest. No, thank you. Instead, he'll (wisely) stick to the marked trails, so he can explore the rugged mountains, deep canyons, mesas, and semi-deserts that make up the paw-some forest. There's even several hot springs! He'll have to keep an eye out for the local wildlife, though. His hoomans say there's a venomous lizard called the Gila monster! How scary! Thankfully, it's rather sluggish, so Luie Boone will easily be able to scamper away from it.
After working up on appetite in the outdoors, there's a variety of local restaurants to chow down at. One favorite is the Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery, which offers hearty Southwestern fare and cold drinks! Luie Boone will bark more about this spot later. Now, he'll bark about the Corner Kitchen and the Jalisco Cafe. Both of these spots provide patio space for hoomans and their pups. The Corner Kitchen specializes in casual American food, while the Jalisco Cafe serves up authentic Mexican food.
If you want to expand your adventures beyond SIlver City, there are several nearby towns that welcome dogs:
Gila is a census-designated place, which means it is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of just 285. Gila is surrounded by the Gila National Forest, so it offers easy access to hiking, camping, and wilderness trails. Dogs are welcome on most trails and campground, as long as they are leashed. Please always check local pet guidelines before bringing your pooch with you. It is also home to the Lyons & Campbell Ranch, which, at one point in time, controlled almost 1 million acres of land and 60,000 cattle! In 1978, the property was partially restored and added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The town of Bayard is located about fifteen to twenty minutes east of SIlver City. Bayard is located in the foothills of the Pinos Altos Range and Mogollon Mountains. It is a small, quiet town, with a gorgeous mural of the Empire Zinc Strike (aka the Salt of the Earth strike). This strike was 15-months-long, hosted by the miners of Grant County, New Mexico, against the Empire Zinc Company in 1950. The miners believed that the Empire Zinc Company was guilty of discriminatory pay against Hispanics. Luie Boone will listen to his hoomans discuss this history, as they dine at the La Mexicana Restaurant in Bayard. La Mexicana Restaurant serves a unique variety of Mexican, Salvadoran, and American cuisine.
The city of Deming is also a spot that Luie Boone recommends visiting on your vacation to the area. Nicknamed the Rock-Hunters Paradise, Luie Boone cannot wait to visit and put his sniffer to good use. You can visit the City of Rocks State Park and view its paw-some volcanic rock formations; and then visit the Rockhound State Park, which allows you to collect minerals and rocks! There is the Deming Luna Mimbres museum, which, unfortunately, dogs are not allowed in, but is a spot for the hoomans to check out. This museum features a collection of Mimbres Indians artifacts. And, if you visit during the third weekend of August, you can catch the Great American Duck Race!
By the end of your vacation to Silver City, New Mexico, and it's surrounding areas, hoomans and their pooches will NOT want to scamper back home.
Paws Rest Here
Luie Boone paw-selected this perfect vacation rental for your stay at Silver City, New Mexico. Check it out below!
Rental Name: Agave House
This rental has 3 bedrooms with 4 beds, 2.5 baths and outdoor shower,
Photos by airbnb.com
It features the following amenities:
Artfully furnished, 2200 square foot home
Surrounded by mountain views
Spectacular sunsets
Four porches with dining options
Back porch with gas grill
Outdoor shower
All bedrooms have private outside entrances
Ping pong table
21 acres of private trails on the property
The beauty of the Gila Wilderness
What does Luie Boone think of this rental? He woofed:
When we vacation in Silver City, New Mexico, my hoomans selected the Agave House for us to rest our paws at. I’m thrilled because the Agave House sounds amazing. It was built into a hillside with big picture windows, mountain views, and four porches paw-some for napping and watching birds. The primary bedroom has a private porch for stargazing, plus an outdoor shower tucked around the corner. Best of all, the property has 21 acres of private hiking trails. I'm going to be ready for sniffing, exploring, and discovering hidden views. My hoomans imagine peaceful sunsets, and I imagine sitting beside them while watching the birds. I can already picture nighttime in the cool mountain air, stretching out at my hoomans' feet while they look up at the stars. This trip is going to be the most paw-some one ever. How can it not be? With all of its trails to roam, comfy beds to sneak up on, birds to supervise, and my hoomans by my side!
Paws Venture Here
Luie Boone sniffed out and dug up these local gems for you to check out while vacationing in Silver City, New Mexico!
Gila Wilderness
Within the Gila Wilderness, you can find an extensive trail system that allows you to explore this vast wilderness. There are high mesas, rolling hills, and deep canyons to check out in the eastern portions. Plus, you can find an expanse of pinyon woodland, juniper woodland, and a few grassland areas. In the central portion of the Gila Wilderness, there are ponderosa pines and sheer cliffs outlining the Gila River. The west and southwest portions boast high mountains, particularly the Mogollon Range. This range has elevations up to 10,895 feet, as well as steep canyons carved from the drainages of Turkey Creek and Mogollon Creek!
Jordan Hot Springs
The Jordan Hot Springs are found in the remote, mountainous area of the Gila National Forest, which is adjacent to Silver City. The walls of the hot springs is primitive rock, while the bottom is gravel! Its temperature ranges from 94 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the season. That is way too hot for Luie Boone. He'll be keeping his paws out of the springs. To reach the springs, you'll need to hike the Little Bear Canyon Trail. You'll cross the Gila River multiple times, so bring dry clothes, shoes, and a towel!
Spring Canyon Trail
The Spring Canyon Trail is found within Rockhound State Park-surrounded by the Florida Mountains. This state park is a day-use area, which welcomes dogs! It has picnic tables to rest at and, hopefully, have some fiddles at. Luie Boone hopes for some fruit and, maybe, a ham sandwich or two. The trail itself is a 1.2-mile out-and-back trail, offering beautiful views. It's an easy hike for dogs, too!
Big Ditch Park
The Big Ditch Park is a combination walking trail and park. There's a footbridge leading to Silver City's historic downtown, plus a re-creation of the cabin where Billy the Kid grew up! Luie Boone will be snapping a pic in front of the cabin, posing like the baddest puppy outlaw in the land. There's a large mural with history, explaining how the park was once the main street of Silver City before a flood washed it away. It's recommended that you stay above the ditch and remain on the paved trails, as the lower trails are close to a homeless encampment.
Lake Roberts
Lake Roberts is a man-made lake of about 70 acres in size and a maximum depth of 35 feet. It offers campgrounds, picnic areas, a boat launch, and hiking trails. Your pooch will love it here! It's located within the Wilderness Ranger District along New Mexico Highway 35. It can be accessed via New Mexico Highway 35 or New Mexico Highway 15. Please note that New Mexico Highway 15 is a narrow, paved, winding road that may not be suitable for trucks with trailers.
Grudging Grave
Grudging Grave is a 2.0 mile out-and-back trail, which leads you to the grave of William Grudgings. He was a cattle rustler who was murdered by Tom Wood in 1893 during a violent feud. This is another historical example of the lawless frontier past of the area.
Dragonfly Trail
Dragonfly Trail is recognized for its ancient rock carvings found about two miles from the trailhead. The most notable carving, often called the “Dragonfly,” is believed to be around 1,000 years old and is surrounded by local legend. Its design reflects Mimbres artistic style, known for curved lines, loops, and arcs in animal imagery. Seasonal dragonfly sightings and scenic views add to the experience. The trailhead is located about three miles east of Silver City and is open to hikers and leashed dogs. To help preserve the site, visitors should never mark, trace, or apply substances to the rock art, and avoid touching the petroglyphs, as oils from hands can cause permanent damage.
Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery
This Silver City, NM restaurant and tasting room offers pet-friendly outdoor seating, so your dog can relax by your side. The menu features a wide selection of comfort foods, including tacos, burgers, wings, salads, sandwiches, soft pretzels, fish and chips, and more. Dogs can even enjoy a bun-free burger of their own. This is a choice Luie Boone would definitely approve of. He'd approve of it even more if they gave him the bun, too. That dog loves bread!
Luie Boone's Pet Peeve about
Silver City, New Mexico
There's just so much to love about this vacation destination, but there's one thing that's got Luie Boone's leash in a twist. He woofed:
In Silver City, New Mexico, there will be mountains and trails. This is paw-some, because hiking is my thing, and I can already imagine all the amazing new smells waiting for me. I did overhear my hoomans talking about traps, though, and that part made my ears perk up. Hunters sometimes place them to catch coyotes and other wildlife, and they are not always easy to spot. Some have metal jaws that snap shut, while others use wire loops that tighten if an animal steps in the wrong place. A curious dog like me could get hurt just by sniffing somewhere I should not, and that makes me a little nervous. Luckily, my hoomans are very careful. They plan to keep me on a leash in wilderness areas, have me stay close on the trails, watch for private land boundaries, and avoid suspicious brushy spots. That makes me feel much better because my hoomans are smart and always look out for me. Even with the worry, I am still excited. I love exploring with my hoomans, and I trust them to keep me safe. I may be cautious about traps, but I am not about to miss an adventure. Silver City, here I come.
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