ACTIVITIES / THINGS TO DO IN SIERRA COUNTY

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FEATURED EVENTS


events in Truth or Consequences New Mexico events in Hillsboro New Mexico Sierra County events
upcoming event info: Annual Events or SierraCountyEvents.com

Black Range Museum
Black Range Museum
Highway 152, Hillsboro
575-895-5685 or 575-895-5233

hours: Thursday-Saturday 11–4
Sunday 1–5 or by appointment
admission: donation
download a list of Sierra County New Mexico museums
Geronimo Springs Museum
Geronimo Springs Museum
211 Main Street, T or C
800-831-9487 / 575-894-6600

hours: Monday - Saturday, 9–5;
Sunday 11–4
admission: Adults $5; Students $2.50
Children under 6 with an adult get in free
AAA and tour discounts
El Camino Real International Heritage Center

El Camino Real International Heritage Center
Located between T or C and Socorro, just over the Sierra County line. From I-25: exit 115, east to Hwy 1 frontage road, south 1.5 miles, turn east onto County Road 1598 and proceed 2.7 miles to the Center.

575-854-3600

hours: 8:30am - 5pm, 6 days a week.
Closed Tuesdays and New Years Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
admission: $5 adults; children 16 and under free.
Percha Bank Museum



Percha Bank Museum
Main Street, Kingston
575-895-5032

hours: by appointment
admission: donation
Pioneer Store Museum

Pioneer Store Museum
Wall Street, Chloride

575-743-2736
email: dedmund@windstream.net

hours: open 7 days, 10am-4pm
admission: donation

Veterans Memorial Park and Museum

Hamilton Military Museum in Truth or Consequences NM


Veterans Memorial Park and
The Hamilton Military Museum
996 S. Broadway, T or C
575-894-0750

museum hours: Tues-Sat, 9am-4pm
admission: donation



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events in Truth or Consequences New Mexico
Sign up today to visit Spaceport America construction site! Tours highlight New Mexico history in the Upham area, spanning from Spanish conquistadors and pioneer rocket research to the new commercial space industry. Depart from the Sierra Grande Lodge in Truth or Consequences for a 3-hour (approximate) tour; cost is $59 per person. Sign up on the Spaceport America website!

(More info on the Spaceport is on our "about" page and in the Press section.)

 


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Truth or Consequences New Mexico - America's Most Affordable Spa Town

Truth or Consequences is truly America’s most affordable spa town!

T or C's Hot Springs Bathhouse Historic and Commercial District sits above one of the largest aquifers in North America, estimated to produce 2.26 million gallons of hot, perfectly balanced mineral water per day. 

Long before white settlement of the area, the Southwest’s indigenous people considered the site to be a place of healing. The first bathhouse is believed to have been built circa 1882 by the John Cross Cattle Company for use by its cowboys. 

hot springs Truth or Consequences

Today, most of the baths in T or C are open to walk-ins who can pay to soak by the half hour or hour.

Lodgers seeking in-room private baths will find several to choose from in the downtown area. (See the Hot Springs District map or our Lodge and Soak section for contact information.)

Charmingly restored, most of T or C's hot spring spa establishments date from the 1920s and '30s when the town was still called Hot Springs (hot mineral water treatment was an accepted medical practice then, and the town's motto was "The City of Health"). Some spas also offer a full range of massage in addition to other pampering and healing arts.  




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Sierra County is home to an extraordinary and eccentric group of artists.  Traditional arts and crafts flourish side by photo show at When Galleryside with cutting-edge contemporary art, creating a lively creative environment.

Information for many of artists and studios can be found on the Sierra County Arts Council website. Other galleries are listed on the sites of our two local Chambers: Elephant Butte and Truth or Consequences / Sierra County. Another good resource for art exhibits in Truth or Consequences that occur as part of TorC's monthly Art Hop, is www.torcart.com.

Andrew Martinez's Pink and Blue at M GalleryThe Art Hop (held on the 2nd Saturday of every month from 6-9pm) showcases the local art scene. Participants in the Hop include art galleries, co-ops, shops and restaurants, and most are located in Truth or Consequences’ easily walkable downtown Hot Springs Bathhouse Historic and Commercial District. The works of well-known painters Delmas Howe and Harold Joe Waldrum are regularly shown alongside a rapidly growing list of other Sierra County artists.

Fiber art is also alive and well in Sierra County. "New Mexico Fiber Arts Trails: A Guide to Rural Fiber Arts Destinations," published by New Mexico Arts in '07, recommends several local sites for fiber art. For more info, download the booklet from their website.

For more information on upcoming or current exhibits, see SierraCountyEvents.com.

 


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Percha Creek Traders in Hillsboro NMThe growth of the county as an affordable destination has attracted new and colorful businesses to the landscape.  

In Truth or Consequences, boutiques have opened featuring the work of clothing and jewelry designers. The town also offers trading posts, antique and thrift stores, bookstores, and gift shops.  

Black Cat Books and Coffee in downtown T or CFrom May to October, at the Saturday Farmer’s Market in T or C's Ralph Edwards Park, a cornucopia of food ranging from North African harissa and aged balsamic vinegar to fresh produce and artisanal cheeses made in the county’s first creamery are purveyed by farmers from nearby outlying areas.

Sierra County's former mining towns are also alive with vibrant new enterprises. Workshops in straw bale construction, galleries and antique stores, and exotic cactus and lavender farms can all be found tucked into the nooks and crannies of the county. Retail establishments inhabit storefronts in once-sleepy towns, offering unexpected opportunities for shopping.

An ever-widening range of dining experiences is also available at restaurants throughout the county. Our restaurants offer cuisine ranging from upscale to down-home. The the Caesar salad at BellaLuca, restaurant italianored and green chile for which the area is famous can be found on menus across the county!

To learn more about the county's retail stores, visit the websites of our two local Chambers of Commerce:

Elephant Butte Chamber of Commerce
T or C / Sierra Count Chamber of Commerce

The NM Tourism website also offers a business listings section where info on local businesses is available. Several T or C businesses are listed (the fastest way to find them is to search on area code 87901, or 87935 for Elephant Butte), or try searching in the Southwest Region.





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El Cortez Theater on Main Street in Truth or Consequences NM

The historic El Cortez Theater, at 415 Main Street in T or C (corner of Main and Foch) shows newly-released films every weekend. The El Cortez was built in 1935; its new owners reopened the theater in 2007.

Showtimes are at 7pm Friday through Sunday, and 2pm on Saturday. Tickets are $5 for all ages. To find out what's playing, call 575-894-4914.

 

The Sierra County Arts Council also holds free screenings at 7pm (summer hours) and 6:30pm (winter hours) on most Thursday nights at the Senior Recreation Center, at 301 Foch in T or C. Info: gumbojames@aol.com.



Studio de la Luzattendees prepare for class at Mothership Yoga Lounge
308 Pershing
Truth or Consequences NM  87901
Call for schedule: 575-894-5508

Mothership Yoga Lounge
500 Austin Street
Truth or Consequences NM  87901
Seasonal; call for schedule: 575-894-3462



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CAMPING & HIKING

With an arid, moderate climate and plenty of clean, breathable air, Sierra County is a great place to hike no matter what the season.

The local chapter of the Sierra Club organizes regular hikes in the Sierra County area; check their site for planned outings.

 
Sierra County New Mexico hiking options include the strenuous hike to the peak of Turtleback Mountain
 
Hikers at the top of Turtle Mountain

The Gila Wilderness and the Aldo Leopold Wilderness offer 3 million acres of wild nature in which to camp, hike, and enjoy the silence and clean air of this uncharted territory.

The Aldo Leopold Wilderness, named for the early naturalist and preservationist, runs along the Continental Divide.

The Gila Wilderness was the first national wilderness area officially dedicated—and it remains the largest primitive area still maintained.  More information is available at the US Forest Service /Black Range District, Gila National Forest Office:

1804 N Date Street
T or C, NM 87901
575-894-6677

Visitors can also camp at any of our area lakes and state parks (scroll down for info on Elephant Butte Lake State Park, Caballo Lake State Park, and Percha Dam State Park).

Some (though not all) campsites at Elephant Butte Lake State Park may be reserved between March 1 and September 30.




a kayak maneuvers on the Rio Grande in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
 
sailing
 

BOATING, CANOEING, KAYAKING

The Rio Grande bisects the county, and feeds both Elephant Butte and Caballo Lake, which draw thousands of visitors each year.  

Ideal for boating, fishing, and water sports of all kinds, the lakes and waterways of Sierra County offer peak recreation opportunities in a setting of pristine beauty. The Rio Grande Sailing Club holds regattas at the lake year-round. In the summer, the Southwest Drag Boat Association hosts races for every kind of watercraft imagineable; see their website for details.

Several Elephant Butte facilities have boats and other watercraft for rent - everything from sea-doos to aqualodges for lake use, and inflatable kayaks and inner tubes for floating down the river.




FISHING

Sierra County New Mexico Fishing
New Mexico fishing

In June 2007, Field & Stream magazine listed Elephant Butte Lake among their "150 Best Fishing Spots Near You."  

Caballo Lake, the Rio Grande, and Percha Dam are other great New Mexico fishing spots, depending on how you like to fish.

Bass Fishing Tournaments are held during the summer months (visit www.fishenchantment.com and click on "tournaments" for a schedule).

Private fishing excursions can be booked through several local Guide Services.

Fishing resources:

LAKE LEVELS:

Bureau of Land Management's report on water levels

New Mexico Fish and Department's statistics on local fishing

WHAT'S BITING:

New Mexico Reservoir Storage Graph

The Fish Phone (scroll down to Region 5 for Sierra County waterways)




BIRDING

Sierra County is one of the finest birding regions in the nation in terms of habitat diversity and potential for rarities.  The riparian habitat along the Rio Grande and its associated lakes is a paradise of egrets, herons, Sierra County New Mexico birdingpelicans, grebes, and unusual avian sightings, and all three of Sierra County's state parks (Percha Dam, Caballo and Elephant Butte) were recently designated by the Audubon Society as important birding areas.  

The Gila National Forest is also a prime mountain birding habitat.  A checklist for the Gila is on the birding page of their website - visit the site for more info, or download the list here.

In the Spring, Percha Dam State Park, considered to be New Mexico's best area for land birds along the Rio Grande, hosts "Migration Sensation" - two days of birding and bird-related programming. Each day begins with guided bird walks to observe sparrows and other birds passing through during the spring Southern New Mexico birding brochuremigration.  

Birding resources:

"Birding in Sierra and Socorro Counties" brochure and map

New Mexico Ornithological Birding Report

Fish and Game birding web page

Fish and Game's birding info on the following areas, in pdf form:

Animas Creek / Hillsboro / Kingston
Percha / Elephant Butte / Caballo / Las Palomas
Emory Pass
Springtime Campground
General Birding Information / Tips for the Trail

For further information on birding in Sierra County, contact Southwest Regional Interpretive Ranger Kevin Hansen: 575-523-6015 / kevin.hansen@state.nm.us.




GUIDED OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Note: The list that follows may not be complete. For more information see the websites of our two local Chambers of Commerce (Elephant Butte and T or C / Sierra County).

 

Birding Guide

WingsWest Birding Tours offers custom tours in the region, including the Rio Grande corridor, the Ladder Ranch (Bald Eagles, etc) and the Kingston area, where the endangered Mexican Spotted Owl can sometimes be heard and seen. Email Bill (wingswestnm@earthlink.net) to arrange a tour.


Fishing Guides

Land of Enchantment Fishing Adventures
575-744-4346

Rio Grande Guide Service
575-740-0150

fishing on Elephant Butte Lake with Rio Grande Guide Service


Outfitters, Hunting and Trail Guides

Beaverhead Outfitters
575-772-5677

Black Range Guide and Outfitters
575-772-5210

Henderson Outfitters
575-772-5767

Limestone Outfitters
575-772-5768

Mike Root Guide Service
575-743-2026

New Mexico hunting guides


Trail Riding

Martineau Stables (horseback rides)
575-894-3367
505-730-3376

Rockin' Ass Ranch (mule rides)
575-894-2538

horseback riding is fun for the whole family

read a recent LA Times story on a writer's trip to the Gila Wilderness




WATERCRAFT / BOAT RENTALS

Dam Site Marina
paddle boats and sit-on kayaks
575-894-2041

Marina del Sur
pontoon boats and ski boats
575-744-5567

Rock Canyon Marina
pontoon boats and aqualodges
575-744-5462

Sports Adventure
pontoon boats, ski boats, and Sea-Doos
888-736-8420
575-744-5590
575-744-5557

White Water Weekends
inner tubes, inflatable kayaks, and 16' catarafts
575-740-3784

New Mexico boating

rent a kayak and float the Rio Grande in Sierra County New Mexico



GOLF

New Mexico has many beautiful golf courses, but Sierra County's mild desert climate makes it possible to play golf all year long!

Truth or Consequences Municipal Golf Course
685 W. Marie
Truth or Consequences NM 87901
575-894-2603

 

  Truth or Consequences New Mexico golf course



Elephant Butte New Mexico golf course   Sierra del Rio Championship Golf Course
at Turtleback Mountain Resort
100 Turtleback Parkway
Elephant Butte 87935
575-744-7100
 




PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL

Truth or Consequences Swimming Pool
775 Daniels
Memorial Day through Labor Day
575-894-6151

The TorC pool (at the corner of Charles and Daniels in TorC's hot springs district) usually opens on Memorial Day each year, and stays open through August. On the schedule: swim team practice, lap swims, water aerobics, and adult and open swims.  

 

Truth or Consequences New Mexico municipal swimming pool


TENNIS COURTS

Gene Speer Tennis Complex
1 block west of Date Street
between Third & Fourth Streets
(east of the T or C Library)

  tennis players at Gene Speer courts




Truth or Consequences’ Parks & Recreation Department provides a wide variety of both indoor and outdoor recreation activities for all age groups.

Popular activities not listed above include the Fishing Pond and Skateboard Park (both at Ralph Edwards Park) and the Gun Range.

 

 

Photographs on this page courtesy of Judd Irish Bradley, Rebecca Speakes, Gina Kelley, Andrew Martinez, Monica Moon Miller, and El Camino Real International Heritage Center.

 

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