Silver City, New Mexico

Photograph La Capilla at Sunrise

0.25 Miles Total - 100 ft gain - Out-and-Back Trail

Originally added by Josiah Roe

Panoramic views of Silver City & the "Little Chapel" set against the Gila Wilderness from atop Chihuahua Hill.

In the last 1800's when Silver City was a booming mining town the quickly growing hispanic population of the Chihuahua Hill neighborhood built a small chapel aka "La Capilla" as a center of community activities including pilgrimages and the Festival of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

When the statue it contained was returned to the church in Mexico the original chapel fell into disrepair, the foundation of which can still be seen on the site.

In the early 2000's the City elected to rebuild a chapel on the hill next to the foundation of the original. It affords some of the best views of Silver City and is particularly lovely during the Golden Hour(s) of sunrise and sunset.

Getting there is straightforward: the entrance to the parking area is a dirt driveway immediately off of La Capilla Road between S. Cooper and S. Roberts road. Please be respectful of the place as it remains a place of cultural significance.