ABOUT THE LODGE

The Lodge Grounds


Bear Mountain Lodge, on the edge of the New Mexico Gila wilderness, is the ideal choice for both quiet relaxation as well as unforgettable adventure.

ABOUT THE LODGE

Bear Mountain Lodge


The Lodge offers excellent and restful accommodations in beautiful Juniper woodland surroundings, with easy access to hiking, cycling, horseback riding, birdwatching, nature study and wilderness.


Our 178 secluded acres are adjacent to the world-renown Gila National Forest, and only minutes from the picturesque heart of Silver City.


The natural and extensive Lodge grounds are native Juniper woodland habitat, at about 6,000 feet in elevation. You will find pathways close to the lodge, a pond, places to relax and watch for wildlife. Some paths lead to well-marked trails into the woodland, some mostly level and easily walkable and others a bit more steep leading to wonderful lookouts.

VIEW GUEST ROOMS

At the Lookout is a unique bench — to rest, to gaze, to birdwatch. A commissioned sculpture, the bench by a Blue Dome Gallery artist, is one of many wonderful pieces of outdoor art that can be discovered on the grounds.


Along the trails are sculptures created by local artists, along with native plants and animals. The distance of the main Lodge trail is 1 mile and well marked.


More hiking is available close by — explore any number of beautiful trails within easy driving or biking distance. Hike to the top of Gomez Peak from Little Walnut trail head (about 12 miles to trail), Signal Peak trails 15 miles from town, or hike on the game preserve at Fort Bayard, 10 miles out Hwy 180. For the truly ambitious, spend a whole day hiking to the top of Cooke's Peak.

DAY TRIP PDF

THE GROUNDS

Salt Lick Labyrinth


Salt Lick Labyrinth, an easy walk from the Lodge, was laid in 2011 on the site of an old cattle salt lick. This seven-circuit Classic labyrinth design can be traced back some 4,000 years. This archetypal design survives along the Scandinavian coastline, into Britain, along the French and Spanish coastlines, and around the Mediterranean, from Egypt to South India. The Man in the Maze baskets made by Native Americans in Pima, Arizona are of the same design. The bench rock and the center rock sparkle in the sun. This labyrinth is oriented to the North on the Great Bear constellation.

THE GROUNDS

Bear's Hump Labyrinth


Bear's Hump Labyrinth is an interlocking spiral, a design often found on local Mimbres pottery. It was laid in 2012 at the top of the mountain near the bench under the Big Tree on the Old Windmill hiking trail thus adding another trail from the Big Tree.


The two central logs are placed in the direction of the hump of the bear in Bear Mountain, which can be glimpsed in the distance through the surrounding trees.


A group of Back Country Horsemen with their horses and mules packed 500 split logs, a total weight of 2,500 lbs, up the mountain while a skeleton labyrinth was being laid out in rope as a guide to log placement.

WHITEWATER MESA LABYRINTHS

Activities on and around the Lodge Grounds

Our Cycling Guests can take half-day to full-day rides on Road or Mountain Bikes.

Our Bird Watching Guests will find the Lodge grounds home to many resident and migrant bird species.

Our Horseback Riding Guests have unique riding opportunities at the Lodge and in the Gila Wilderness.

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