As published in the July issue of the Mimbres Messenger
Now is a great time, in this age of the Covid-19 and social distancing, to visit places in the Mimbres area that you have not been to before or want to see again. One of my favorite views of the Mimbres Valley is from the North Star Road (AKA Forest Road 150 or the Wall Lake Road). The first few miles up North Star off of Highway 35 are steep and curvy, and sometimes rough, depending on when the road was last graded. In winter it’s fourwheel drive only. In summer it’s spectacular.
View down the Mimbres Valley from North Star RoadGreen vistas and monsoon clouds over the valley make the drive well worth it. And now, thanks to the Gila National Forest and the USDA you can learn about the history of the road and the CCCers who built bridges and left their mark on the Gila country; a sign in front of the Wilderness District Ranger Station and another about a mile and a half up the North Star Road, tell the story of the Civilian Conservation Corps(CCC) in the Mimbres area (1933-42).
There were about 17 CCC camps in and around the Gila National Forest, including Camp Mimbres or Camp Sully. The CCC was created during the Great Depression to provide employment and teach skills to unmarried young men. Fire towers, ranger stations and campgrounds were built, dams to prevent erosion were constructed, telephone lines were erected, and vegetation planted. The North Star Road was reconstructed and improved; bridges in Terry Canyon and Black Canyon were built. Some bridges have recently been replaced, but two CCC bridges in Terry Canyon are still in use. The road was first constructed in the late 1800s by area settlers and soldiers from Fort Bayard.
Take a look at the sign at the Wilderness District Ra. Sta. A map shows how North Star cuts through the Gila Wilderness and Aldo Leopold Wilderness areas. The trip from the start of the road on Highway 35 up to Beaver Head Work Center takes several hours, with very slow-going through Terry Canyon, Rocky Canyon, Black Canyon, and Diamond Creek. It’s an adventure. But, to have awe-inspiring views of the Mimbres and Sapillo Valleys, and to visit the CCC sign on North Star, you only need to venture off the pavement less than two miles.
For more info: Go to the Learning Center at www.fs.usda.gov/gila