A hotbed for cyclists across many disciplines, Silver City sits at the edge of the nation’s first wilderness area. The town of roughly 10,000 people welcomes bike tourists and bike racers for short sojourns that often turn into full-time residencies. Silver City has become a secret training ground for world tour roadies, a haven for Great Divide riders, and the hideout for cycling coaches and retired pros who’ve noted the less-traveled roads and sparsely populated trails that abound in our region.

The landscape the Tour of the Gila traverses has been home to indigenous groups like the Mimbres Mogollon and the Chiricahua Apache for hundreds of years, remains the livelihood of local ranchers and inspires artists in all media. The mountains that called to early prospectors now supply minerals like copper to the world.

Silver City is a cultural and commercial hub for the residents of three rural counties in southwest New Mexico. Further, it’s a destination for those from across the globe. See what’s so magnetic about Silver City for yourself. Download the Silver City Vacation Guide here.