Eco-Tourism in the heart of the Gila Wilderness

Eco-tourism resources: Discover the Rugged Beauty of Southwestern NM... And Go Green Eco-Tourism in the heart of the Gila Wilderness Get green! New Mexico emphasizes sustainability and ecotourism Guides, transportation and more resources! Living sustainably in the Gateway to the Gila Sustainable living resources: Bayard Farmers' Market Gila Resources Information Project Grant County Food Council Green Chamber of Commerce Mimbres Valley Farmers' Market Pedestrian and Bicyclist Routes Master Plan Silver City Farmers' Market Solar car-charging station in Silver City Think Local First! Viva Verde!

Welcome to Silver City's and Grant County's resource for information on eco-tourism and sustainable living in the heart of the Gila Wilderness!

Visit us: Get off the beaten path and explore our remarkable landscape, fantastic year-round weather, glorious cultural resources and the hidden wilderness gems in our wild and rugged corner of the Land of Enchantment.

Grant County has an average of just 5 people per square mile, so you'll find plenty of space to stretch out in. But you can just as easily find friendly small-town downtowns, with (relatively) bustling shops, great restaurants and lots of chances to hear live music.

And whether you want an Apache guided horseback trek through the Gila Wilderness,  a lazy float down the Gila River, or an guided exploration of the history and architecture of our County seat, you will come to feel that you are truly in the the Land of Enchantment!

Ancient
Our community has an ancient history, with folks living here continuously for more than 1,100 years -- from the Mimbres people and the Apache, Spanish and Mexican frontiersmen and ranchers, Anglo settlers, Buffalo soldiers, farmers, ranchers and more.

From the outset, living here has meant living sustainably: the Mimbres people used passive solar heating to make their homes warm and dry through our winters, and Native American and later immigrants to the area all used earth construction techniques -- from traditional adobe block to rammed-earth and straw bale --  to take the edge of winter and summer alike. Native Americans and later arrivals relied on three-sisters agriculture with plant species suited to our warm and dry climate, and many modern small farms continue to practice careful ranching and agriculture throughout the county. Out enormous solar potential makes modern photo-voltaic systems attractive to many, and huge commercial PV installations to the south of Silver City tie into commercial electrical distribution systems.


Multi-Cultural. One Spirit
From the earliest Mimbres inhabitants, the first Spanish colonial settlers, the homesteaders heading westward in the 1800’s to the more recent arrivals, people from a variety of cultures and distant lands have been enchanted enough to call New Mexico home.

Ecotourism, New Mexico style, celebrates our multi-cultural roots, love of the land and adventure through journeys that share the authentic best of each, which not only benefits those that come in contact with it, but give local communities and ecosystems a sustainable path into the future.