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Chloride Canyon Overnight-There will be a lot of exploratory driving on this trip.

Fri May 14, 2027 8:30AM to Sun May 16, 2027 12:00AM    

 Participant Responsibility Notice

New Mexico 4-Wheelers guests and members will be meeting for a group activity as indicated below. Drivers are responsible for the safe operation of their own vehicles and should evaluate obstacles based on their own comfort and experience level and vehicle capability.

This is a volunteer recreational activity. Participants are responsible for their own safety, vehicle operation, and compliance with land-use rules. 

Getting to Reserve via this route at this time is not possibe due to two nearby fires.

Chloride Canyon Overnight Trip

As of : 11:00 pm (2300) on 7/1/26

UPDATE There are no active wildfires directly along Chloride Canyon Road stretching between Winston and Reserve, New Mexico

High-clearance off-highway vehicles (OHVs) or non-motorized travel are strongly recommended.

Chloride Canyon Road (Forest Road 226) is not completely closed, but it remains restricted to high-clearance off-highway vehicles (OHVs) or 4WD vehicles. Frequent flash floods cause deep washouts and steep drop-offs along creek crossings.

If it gets smokey on the trip we will either 1) Cancel and people can go home, or, 2) there are plenty of alternative trails in the area.

Weather Update as of 7/6/26 12:31 [pm) for Friday 7/10

Smoky Haze
Highs will reach 89°F with lows near 65°F in Chloride, where smoky Haze is. There's a very small chance of rainfall, only about 3% with an estimated 0in. Winds will be strong at speeds peaking at 22mph and gusts of 25.4mph at 7 PM. Humidity levels should be comfortable, sitting around 35% on average, the maximum being 47% at 8 PM and 13% being its lowest at 3 PM. Barometric pressure is its highest of 29.98inHg at 11 PM, a lowest point of 29.75inHg at 4 PM with an avg 29.89inHg.

Saturday 7/11/26:

Partly Cloudy
In Chloride, cloudy skies are likely with a high near 85°F and a low around 66°F. Rainfall predicted to have a 57% chance with an estimated 0.11in. Wind will be moderate, blowing around 15mph on average and gusts of 16.5mph at 3 PM. Humidity levels should be comfortable, sitting around 36% on average, the maximum being 65% at 11 PM and 18% being its lowest at 3 PM. Barometric pressure is its highest of 30.03inHg at 10 PM, a lowest point of 29.83inHg at 6 PM with an avg 29.95inHg.

A bit of history first.

Chloride got its start in the late 1870s by accident. Harry Pye, a mule skinner, was hauling freight through the area for the U.S. Army when he found some "float" that he thought might be silver ore in a creek bed. He had the rocks assayed and found they were rich in chloride of silver. Pye kept his find a secret until his Army freighting contract expired in 1879. With two companions, he returned to Chloride Canyon, built a cabin and staked a claim. Within a few months the Pye party was attacked by Apache Indians and Pye was killed.

The history of Chloride reads like the script for a bad western – silver strike, population boom, Apache raids, salvation by the militia, cattle versus sheep, tar and feathering, even bear attacks.

An Englishman named Harry Pye was delivering freight for the U.S. Army from Hillsboro to Camp Ojo Caliente in 1879 when he discovered silver in the canyon where Chloride is now located. After completing his freighting contract, he and two others returned to the area in 1881 and staked a claim. The name "Chloride" was finally selected, after the high-grade silver ore was found there. It became the center for all mining activity in the area, known as the Apache Mining District. During the 1880s, Chloride had 100 homes, 1,000-2,000 people, eight saloons, three general stores, restaurants, butcher shops, a candy store, a lawyer's office, a doctor, boarding houses, an assay office, a stage line, a Chinese laundry and a hotel. 

Chloride and the surrounding area began to decline with the silver panic of 1893, when the country went on the gold standard and silver prices dropped about 90 percent. Today, about 27 of Chloride’s original buildings are still standing, including the Pioneer Store, which now serves as a museum. Main Street is lined with false front structures, as well as adobe buildings, some restored and some suffering the effects of time. There are two cemeteries and the 200- year-old oak "Hanging Tree" still stands in the middle of Wall Street. About 20 residents, many of who are descendants of the original founders, occupy the town.

Source: https://www.newmexico.org/places-to-visit/ghost-towns/chloride/

The Trip

This trip could be a single over-nighter or a two-nighter. That being said, bring plenty of water, food (for several days) and EXTRA FUEL. Be sure you are prepared appropriately with tools for your vehicle and possibly trail maintenance tools as well and proper clothing.

Previous Trail Reports: There are numerous water crossings as well. Most of the route is easy when dry. Tree removal is to be expected. Heavy rains or thaw can make most of the route impassable. (Since this is early July, I am not expecting the rains or thaw).  The trail varies from rocky, forrest road and private routes. The creek/river was dry. Gorgeous views. Aired down to make for a smoother drive. Either way it was a nice drive, beautiful views and quiet! There are some petroglyphs on the canyon walls. We saw deer, squirrels, cows, birds, and there were a bunch of hornets.

I expect we will stop in Winston for any supplies that may have been left behind by accident or by discovery. This will be our last opportunity to fill up both tanks, human and mechanical. The trlip I have mapped out is anywhere from 150 to 180 miles long. It starts around T or C and ends up in Reserve.. It's a long way so be prepared for long driving days. There are multiple spurs we can check out along the way. One is Lookout Mountain and another is Beaver Creek Canyon and the Gila Headwaters Overlook. There are many others but for the sake of time we won't be able to explore those. Our adventure will end in Reserve NM.

Be sure to have the following (not and exhuastive list by any means):