Pinos Altos

Tucked into the hills about five to ten miles north of Silver City, New Mexico, Pinos Altos got its start in 1860 when gold was discovered in the nearby Pinos Altos Mountains. The settlement grew around gold mining and at one point was a full-fledged community before eventually being abandoned.

Today the town has come back to life in a modest way, serving as a destination for summer homes and drawing tourists curious about its past. A small permanent population — 225 residents as of the 2020 census — gives it just enough life to feel inhabited rather than purely derelict. Visitors get a sense of a place caught between its historic roots and a quiet modern afterlife.

Access is straightforward by passenger car, and its proximity to Silver City makes Pinos Altos an easy half-day side trip. The summer months are the sweet spot for a visit, when the weather cooperates and the community is most active.