(nr Socorro NM)
About 6 miles west of Socorro along US-60 is a BLM area called The Box. Popular with rock climbers because of the 5 cliffs in the box canyon. And, only about 1 mile off the highway on a gravel road.
Cliff at The Box
There is a decent parking lot with a vault toilet; but, no drinking water. There were lots of hikers heading into the rocks. The 640 acre park has trails out into the rocks and hills. There are no fees for using the area.
Another of the cliffs
Just outside the box, the road parallels a wash, and it appears there were good boondock camps in that area. It would be a convenient waypoint stop just off the highway, for a few nights, while exploring more of the Cibola National Forest. And, I plan to do that at another time.
More cliffs in the canyon
I was there just to check it out, as I was meeting an RVing friend for lunch in Socorro. We went to a local Mexican restaurant and got caught up on what we each had been doing.
Site: The Socorro Box-BLM Recreation Area
Scene: Cliffs, rocks, wash, trails
If you go into Magdelena, just down the road from Socorro, stop at the Blue Canyon Art Gallery. Please tell Barbara that Diane and her daughter Dakota from Ohio said hi and I will be out her way in the spring. We stayed at her place several years ago.
I bet she will offer you a place to park.
Went through Magdalena before going to The Box. Stopped at a gallery there; but, it is was closed. Can’t remember the name of it though. Thanks for the info.