Alum Camp

April 24, 2025

The Alum Camp hike is a perennial favorite, offering easy access to an astounding section of the Continental Divide Trail along the main stem Gila River. Today's adventure with the Gila Hikers was planned as a six-mile round trip with an early start from Silver City. But it was one of those fabulous spring days when the Gila is flowing strong and clear, the sycamores are bursting with electric lime green foliage, and the sky is that incomparable New Mexico lapis blue.

We detoured to pay our respects to tiny Melanie Hot Springs, barely large enough for two close friendw. It's a delightful and well-shaded oasis at the base of a gnarled volcanic cliff.

We have a long tradition of taking photos of our group in front of this gorgeous, meandering Arizona sycamore. Alan, Dave, Dennis, Sue and Morgan graciously obliged.

There's only one small climb in this section, but the view upstream from the top of the rise is totally worth the effort.

Alum Canyon was the site of an alum mining operation in the early 1900s. The original road from Silver City to the Gila Cliff Dwellings dropped 1800 feet from Copperas Flat to the Gila River via Alum Canyon. From there it was 14 miles and 19 river crossings to Doc Campbell's ranch on the Gila River. On our last hike to Alum Camp in 2022, we explored as far as the old mine, and found a mysterious rock with high metallic content in the streambed. We dropped a pin in the location, and were amazed that we walked right to it this afternoon.

Crossing the Gila just below Alum Camp.

Another graceful Arizona sycamore along the trail. With our tantalizing detours, we logged more than nine miles by the end of the day. But we made it to Doc Campbell's in time for homemade ice cream! We sat in the shade and mused over great hiking and backpacking trips we have known, and many more yet to come. A very fine day!