The Nogal Mining District surrounds the community of Nogal and covers the area between Nogal and Nogal Peak. Most of the district lies within the Lincoln National Forest. This connection between local history and the mining region shapes the distinctive perspective on Nogal: gold discoveries, mining facilities, and the landscape along the Nogal Canyon Trail tell different stories of the area.
Gold Discoveries and the Founding of the Community
In 1865, placer gold was discovered near Nogal, then called Dry Gulch. Three years later, Billy Gill found a quartz vein. This discovery helped lead to the founding of the community of Nogal and the Nogal Mining District. The sequence distinguishes the first gold discovery from the later development of the community and mining district.
In addition to gold, silver, copper, and lead were mined in the Nogal Mining District. At the Parsons Mine, the stages of ore extraction and processing can be seen. This means the region’s history is not tied to just one mineral: ore processing and the development of communities that grew up around the mines are also part of the story.
Mining Sites in the Nogal Mining District
The Parsons Mine site, also known as the Hopeful Lode, includes four adits, an open pit, large waste-rock piles, and two prospect shafts north of Forest Road 108. Surviving structures and remnants also include three boilers, numerous concrete foundations and metal pipes, an ore separator, a water catchment basin, and a metal safe. There are also cyanide tailings piles, smaller remnants, and scattered artifacts.
The Parsons Mine is significant as a mining and ore-processing site: it contributed to regional developments in frontier settlement and economic growth. The surviving facilities can also offer insight into early mining technologies and the communities that developed around these mines. Of the 13 known types of ore extraction and processing sites in the Nogal Mining District, the mine is considered the best-preserved example of both types of facility.
The Bonito Pipeline and Nogal Lake
The Bonito Pipeline is part of the area’s water-management history. When it was built, it was the longest railroad water line in New Mexico; the El Paso and Southwestern Railway laid the line in 1908. Nogal Lake lies three miles southeast of the community of Nogal and served as a nearby storage site for water from the pipeline. In this way, water transport and mining add another regional dimension to the district’s history.
Scenery Along the Nogal Canyon Trail
The Nogal Canyon Trail soon leaves the scrubland and opens onto a large meadow bordered by Nogal Peak. From there, you can enjoy expansive views across the slopes and panoramic vistas. This change in scenery offers a different focus from the mining history: along the trail, the transition from scrubland to open meadow and the views across the slopes take center stage.
The Nogal Canyon Trail trailhead can be reached via FR108 from FR107, the Rio Bonito Road. The trail description, updated in 2014, notes that a high-clearance vehicle and possibly four-wheel drive may be required. Check current road conditions before setting out.
Finding a Hotel and Planning Your Trip
When looking for a hotel in Nogal, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: Would you like to explore the district’s mining history, or experience the scenery along the Nogal Canyon Trail? These two themes offer different perspectives on the area. If you plan to hike the trail, factor in access when planning and make sure the location of your accommodation suits your plans.
Discover more destinations: Alto, Carrizozo, Ruidoso Downs, Ruidoso, Capitan
View the broader travel guide: Lincoln.
