Lake Valley

The Lake Valley scenic byway is located in southwestern New Mexico, 50 miles northwest of Las Cruces. It begins south of Caballo at Exit #63 on I-25. It travels west to Hillsboro and then south to Nutt. Lake Valley is 44 miles long and follows NM 27 and NM 152, which are two-lane paved roads suitable for all vehicles. Both state highways usually remain open all year. Several low-water crossings are encountered; it is best to not attempt crossing when water is present.

Travelers may begin their journey on the Lake Valley Back Country Byway by taking the Hillsboro exit from I-25. From here the byway heads west across the desert landscape with views of distant Animas Peak and Black Peak to the north. Before reaching Hillsboro, you’ll see the remains of an open copper mine. You may want to spend some time in Hillsboro exploring the historic buildings.

From Hillsboro the byway turns south and heads toward the nearly deserted town of Lake Valley. The byway passes through mountain scrubland with stands of juniper and pinyon trees. This is an excellent area for spotting mule deer. Between Hillsboro and Lake Valley, you’ll be following the route of the Kingston-Lake Valley Stage Line, which ran through here during the 1880s. Soldiers were stationed in Hillsboro and Lake Valley to protect settlers from Apache attacks. Lake Valley was once a thriving mining town of over 4,000 inhabitants. The devaluation of silver in 1893 led to its eventual decline. A few historic structures remain, among them is the schoolhouse that is still used by locals for weddings and dances.

Once through Lake Valley the byway continues south with views of Monument Peak and Nutt Mountain. Among the wildlife in this area are antelope, deer, roadrunners, red-tailed hawks, and coyotes. The byway ends in Nutt, originally a stop on the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway.

There are no public campgrounds along the byway, however, two state parks are near the byway’s northern terminus. Caballo Lake State Park has 130 sites for tents and recreational vehicles, many with electrical hookups. The Percha Dam State Park has 60 sites, some also with hookups.

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