Hey Guys!
Explore a New Mexico road trip from Silver City to Las Cruces with the Catwalk Trail, unique rock formations, and a stop in Hatch for New Mexico’s famous green chile.
Today, we will be making the drive from Silver City to Las Cruces and making stops at the Catwalk Trail, City of Rocks State Park and driving through the famous chile town of Hatch.
If you’re planning a road trip in southern New Mexico, the drive from Silver City to Las Cruces is packed with scenic stops, unique landscapes, and small-town charm.
Along this route, you’ll find the dramatic Catwalk Recreation Area, the unusual rock formations at City of Rocks State Park, and the famous chile town of Hatch before arriving in Las Cruces.
This trip is a great mix of hiking, photography, and classic New Mexico roadside exploration.
Quick Overview
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- Route: Silver City → Catwalk → Silver City→City of Rocks → Hatch → Las Cruces
- Drive time (without stops): 5 hours
- Best for: Scenic driving, hiking, photography, food stops
- Highlights: Catwalk National Recreation Area, City of Rocks State Park, Hatch Chile country
We packed up and checked out of our cute little AirBnb and then headed to our first stop of the day.
The drive from Silver City to the Catwalk Recreation Area is approximately 1 hr 15 mins.
Tip: If you have more than one day in Silver City you could also visit Lake Roberts, Gila Hot Springs and the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Total drive time is around 2 hrs from Silver City.
The scenery along the way was gorgeous!
The mountain range went on for miles!
Stop 1: Catwalk National Recreation Area
The Catwalk National Recreation Area is one of the most unique stops on this route. A suspended walkway follows Whitewater Creek through a narrow canyon, creating a dramatic hiking experience unlike anything else in the region.
What to expect:
- A short but scenic hike along a metal catwalk structure
- Canyon walls rising above the trail
- Creek crossings and shaded sections
- A mix of easy walking and light elevation changes
We arrived to the Catwalk National Recreation Area at around 8:30 am and there were only a few other vehicles in the parking lot.
Tip: There’s a $5 day use fee per vehicle
The Catwalk National Recreation Area is located inside the Gila National Forest.
Gold and silver were mined in the nearby Mogollon Mountains. The town of Graham and its mill, built by John T. Graham in 1893, was the primary industrial site, located near the current parking lot.
You will see many information plaques along the trail that tell you about the history of this area.
Along the trail, you will also see huge sycamore trees.
We couldn’t pass up having our pictures taken in front on them….and on them! 😉
The first section of the trail is flat and paved. 
It follows the Whitewater Creek through a steep-sided canyon.
The highlight is when you reach the metal walkway, also known as the catwalk.
This new catwalk was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s. It replaced the 1890’s wooden structure that kept getting destroyed by floods. It has since been repaired and rebuilt multiple times.
The catwalk trail is a 1.25 mile trail that features the original 19th century mining pipe brackets.
The original catwalk was built to supply water for the ore processing mill, a 4-inch pipeline was built through the narrow Whitewater Canyon, with a 3-mile, 18-inch pipeline added later. Workers, or “catwalkers,” used the pipe to walk through the canyon.
The new catwalk is bolted directly into the rock walls, sometimes suspended above rushing water.
The views are truly spectacular!
The design was truly remarkable and I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been to build this!
There are steps leading down from the catwalk to the canyon below.
The trails beneath the catwalk seemed to go on for miles!
I would highly recommend you do this! We saw lots of beautiful flowers blooming!
This place was otherworldly …it’s hard to describe!
We saw lots of unique rock formations.
We spent at least 45 mins exploring the canyon floor.
We then headed back towards the catwalk.
Along the catwalk we spotted remnants of the original catwalk.
We spent around 2 hours here exploring the area.
Read reviews here
We then headed back to Silver City to have lunch and explore the Old West town.
The views on the way there.
We passed a sign for the Continental Divide.
Stop 2: Silver City – Art, History, and High Desert Adventure
Silver City was born in the 1870’s silver boom, when prospectors flooded the area after major discoveries nearby.
It became a major mining hub for silver, gold, and copper.
Fun note: Billy the Kid lived here as a teenager & Geronimo moved through the region
The town is very artsy. It has more than 50 galleries and studios in and around downtown.
Murals, public art, and quirky installations are scattered throughout the town.
The downtown area is very walkable and colorful and full of historic buildings. 
After getting parked, we headed to find something to eat.
We passed this store that had these cool looking lamps where the base was made from a cactus.
Where to Eat
We spotted a place called the Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery so decided to try it out.
The restaurant was located in the heart of downtown in the historic Isaac Cohen building that was built in 1881.
The restaurant actually started in the mountains near the Gila Wilderness in 2012 as a remote inn and tavern but moved to Silver City in 2013 as a full brewery, distillery and restaurant.
The menu offers pub style food such as burgers, sandwiches, ribs, tacos, fish & chips and more.
My hubby opted for the (not a Philly) cheese steak and I chose the Froggy French Dip.
The food, as well as the service, was really good.
Read reviews here
This restaurant consistently ranks among the top rated restaurants in Silver City on travel platforms.
Here’s a list of the most popular restaurants in Silver City:
- The Jalisco Cafe – one of the most talked about local institutions for authentic New Mexican cuisine
- Mi Casita – a casual favorite with strong local following and generous portions
- Corner Kitchen – a small, highly rated cafe known for creative breakfast dishes and a cozy vibe – often considered one of the best in town
- Adobe Springs Cafe – a classic breakfast stop with local flavor and comfort food
- Chaos Sandwiches – a standout for inventive sandwiches & fresh ingredients
- Iron Door BBQ – one of the top rated spots for brisket & smoked meats
- Forrest’s Pizza – known for thin crust pizza – small but highly rated
- LaVie Est Un Bistro – a cozy, intimate French inspired restaurant
- Mick’s 33 Lounge – a lesser known spot with seafood and lounge vibes
After lunch, we walked around the colorful town.
We spotted this cute mural and couldn’t pass up having our pictures taken in front of it. 🙂
There were lots of information plaques scattered throughout the downtown area that talked about the history of the town.
And the sidewalks.
Silver City lies in a mountainous basin. Torrential or monsoon rains, July to September, crash through arroyos towards the desert.
So, the sidewalks were built higher than most sidewalks due to the flooding that occurs here.
After spotting a small, local coffee shop called Javalina Coffee House, we decided to go in and grab a coffee for the road.
Javalina has that laid back, artsy, slightly quirky Southwest feel ….it was very cozy and casual.
We both ordered a vanilla latte and grabbed a few pastries.
Unfortunately, the coffee was so bad, we ended up throwing it away!
Read reviews here
After leaving here, we headed to our next stop, the City of Rocks State Park.
Stop 3: City of Rocks State Park
City of Rocks State Park feels almost otherworldly. Massive volcanic rock formations, the desert floor, creating maze-like pathways and open spaces to explore.
Things to do here:
- Walk through the rock formations
- Take scenic photos from different angles
- Visit designated viewpoints
- Camp or picnic if you have extra time
- Visit after dark to stargaze
This is a great place to slow down and explore at your own pace.
The park is located 45 mins drive from Silver City.
The park from a distance.
Tip: This park closes from 9 pm to 7 am
Approaching the park
The City of Rocks doesn’t look like a typical state park – it feels more like you’ve wandered into another planet.
Rising out of the desert floor are massive, rounded volcanic rock formations, clustered so tightly they form natural “streets”, corridors, and hidden spaces you can walk through like a stone city.
The “park” was formed long ago by a massive volcanic eruption that spread thick layers of ash across the region.
Over time, that ash hardened into rock, then weathered and eroded into the strange, sculpted shapes you see today.
Some of these rocks reach up to 40 feet tall.
It was a maze of volcanic stone.
The park sits in the high desert of southwestern New Mexico surrounded by wide open plains and distant mountain ranges.
It’s also known as one of the best stargazing spots in the state.
City of Rocks is famous for its unique campsites…many of the sites are tucked between or beside rock formations. Camping costs around $10-20 per night.
Tip: There is a $5 per vehicle day use fee
There’s a small botanical garden that features desert plants you can walk through as well.
This is a great place to visit if you’re into photography!
Tip: Keep an eye out for rattlesnakes!
So many opportunities for some cool & unique shots!
As we explored the park, we noticed wildlife weaving in and out of the rock formations.
We felt like kids again climbing up and down the rocks!
The views from atop the rocks were amazing!
Our rental car sitting in front of the rocks.
After spending about two hours wandering through the rocks, we decided to head to our next destination.
Read reviews for the park here
The drive from the City of Rocks to Las Cruces would take 1 hr 30 mins if you drive the interstate but we chose to avoid the interstate so it took 2 hrs.
Shortly after leaving the City of Rocks, we spotted a herd of pronghorn in the field.
New Mexico holds a robust population of roughly 64,000 pronghorn, with the largest concentrations in the northeastern grasslands. They thrive in open, shortgrass prairies, with significant herds also in southeastern New Mexico.
Stop 4: Hatch, New Mexico
Hatch is known as the “Chile Capital of the World”, and it’s a perfect stop for food and local culture along the way to Las Cruces.
What you’ll find in Hatch:
- Local restaurants serving New Mexico-stlye chile dishes
- Small-town charm and roadside shops
- Seasonal chile harvest culture (especially in late summer and fall)
Even a short stop here gives you a taste of one of New Mexico’s most famous food region.
So, our next stop would be Hatch...it wasn’t actually a stop but more of a drive through because we were ready to get to our next Airbnb. 
Hatch is a tiny farming village with a population of around 1,500 but it punches far above its weight thanks to one thing: chile peppers.
It proudly calls itself the Chile Capital of the World, and for good reason — its surrounding valley produces some of the most famous peppers in the U.S.
What makes Hatch chiles special isn’t just the plant — it’s the place. The combination of Rio Grande irrigation, mineral rich soil, and hot desert climate gives the peppers a distinctive smoky, slightly sweet flavor that people will travel for miles to taste.
Every Labor Day weekend, Hatch transforms from a quiet town into a buzzing hotspot during the Hatch Chile Festival. This festival draws tens of thousands of visitors. The festival features parades, chile roasting, food vendors, and contests.
Hatch wasn’t always a chile destination. It started as a farming settlement in 1851, was abandoned multiple times due to conflict, and was permanently resettled in 1875, eventually taking the name “Hatch” after a military officer.
The town is very quirky and we passed lots of roadside oddities.
And lots of chile farm stands selling their chilies.
I definitely recommend a stop here and I wished we would have had more time to explore the cute, little town.
Our next stop would be our Airbnb in Las Cruces.
Stop 5: Las Cruces, NM (End of the Trip)
Las Cruces marks the end of the journey and offers a larger city feel after a day of scenic rural driving.
It’s a great place to relax, grab dinner, and unwind after exploring the desert landscapes and small towns along the way.
Depending on your stay, you may find plenty of restaurants, local attractions, and a slower evening pace to end the trip.
As we were arriving into Las Cruces, we passed huge pecan tree farms.
This stretch of the Rio Grande Valley is famous for pecans. Las Cruces is actually one of the largest pecan producing regions in the US.
Just outside Las Cruces, the Organ Mountains rise abruptly from the desert floor — jagged, almost theatrical, like a stone skyline carved by wind and time.
They’re one of those landscapes that feel unexpectedly dramatic — especially if you’ve been driving through flatter farmland and desert before they suddenly appear.
Their name comes from their resemblance to the pipes of a pipe organ, with tall narrow granite spires shooting upward.
Where to Stay
We personally enjoy staying in AirBnb or VRBO properties instead of hotels because we have a lot more space and we like having two bathrooms and a hot tub when possible!
We loved our AirBnB!
It was so big! It had 3 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms and would accommodate up to 6 people.
Our host left us some awesome treats too!
The coffee bar was one of the best we had seen in an AirBnb.
We loved the outdoor space as well.
And, of course, the hot tub! 😉
If you would rather stay in a hotel, here’s a list of the best hotels in Las Cruces:
- Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces – this is a stand out if you want something memorable. It has a Southwestern hacienda style, beautiful views of the Organ Mountains, and a resort-like feel without luxury pricing.
- Linden Inn of the Arts – smaller, artsy, and very personal. Feels more like staying in a curated home that a chain hotel.
- Hilton Garden Inn Las Cruces – clean, modern, and consistent. Good location near shopping and restaurants.
- Drury Inn & Suites Las Cruces – a favorite for value –often includes extras like breakfast and evening snacks.
- Comfort Suites Las Cruces I-25 North – spacious rooms, newer feel, and very solid comfort level
- TownePlace Suites by Marriott Las Cruces – great if you like having a kitchenette. Modern and clean — popular for longer stays.
- Home2 Suites by Hilton Las Cruces – bright, new, and a bit trendier in design.
Where to Eat
Ok – so, we were really tired by the time we arrived to Las Cruces so we just went through the Taco Bell drive through! I know, I know…who does that when you’re in New Mexico?! I never eat Taco Bell….never! But I did on this day.
Here’s a list of the most popular restaurants in Las Cruces:
- La Nueva Casita Cafe – widely considered one of the best for authentic New Mexican food. Frequently ranked at the top locally.
- Si Senor Restaurant – a go-to for classic plates like enchiladas and chile rellenos.
- Chala’s Wood Fire Grill – a more modern take on New Mexican cuisine – wood fired meats + chile-forward dishes. Locals mention if often as a favorite.
- D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro – probably the most consistently praised “nice dinner” spot – wine, steaks, pasta and a polished atmosphere.
- Gatsbys Bistro – a quieter, more intimate place with European inspired dishes.
- Waves Food Hawaiian-Cajun – super unexpected fusion spot — very highly rated and memorable if you are wanting something different.
- Santorini – Mediterranean food with a strong local following
- The Shed – a beloved breakfast/brunch spot
- Grounded – coffee shop + food + hangout space
- Fig & Brie – smaller, trendy spot – charcuterie style boards and lighter fare.
- Bubba’s 33 – not unique to Las Cruces, but a solid casual option if you want something easy and consistent.
The drive from Silver City to Las Cruces is one of those road trips that rewards slowing down. Between canyon hikes, volcanic rock landscapes, and classic New Mexico food stops, each part of the journey offers something different.
If you’re traveling through southern New Mexico, this route is well worth taking at a relaxed pace. It’s a route best enjoyed slowly, with time built in for exploration rather than rushing from place to place.
More New Mexico Road Trips
If you enjoyed this route, you might also like:
- Albuquerque to Santa Fe via the Turquoise Trail (Scenic stops + Madrid & Cerrillos)
- Santa Fe to Silver City Travel Guide (Best things to do + historic downtown)
This trip is part of my New Mexico road trip series.
More stops and routes coming soon!
Click here for links to all of my travel guides