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HIDALGO COUNTY - A PHOTOGRAPHER'S DELIGHT
Hidalgo County is unique in the fact that it can offer a little of everything for the photographer: wildlife, beautiful scenery, rustic buildings and breathtaking western sunsets, to name a few. For the wildlife photographer, Hidalgo County is home to several unique species that are primarily found in Mexico. The coatimundi, a kind of Mexican raccoon, and the ring-tailed cat are found in the rural areas of the county. Mule deer and Coues' white-tailed deer are common, as are javelina, antelope and jackrabbits. Less common mammals are mountain lions, bobcats and the extremely rare jaguar. Desert bighorn sheep are sometimes seen from Highway 80 at Granite Gap, and buffalo can be observed grazing off Highway 81 in the southeast portion of the county. Other desert creatures that are sought out to be photographed are Gila Monsters, scorpions and tarantulas. However, the fauna that Hidalgo County is perhaps most sought-after are its birds. The golden eagle is common throughout the county, and bald eagles, our country's national emblem, to a lesser degree. Prairie falcons are often seen over the deserts and grasslands, and the swift peregrine falcon less so. Sometimes found in the southern half of the Coronado National Forest and Guadalupe Canyon is the elusive Elegant Trogon, which offers a challenge to any wildlife photographer. Guadalupe Canyon also offers photographers the opportunity to find rare Mexican species. Due to its close proximity to Mexico, anything can turn up there. And colorful hummingbirds of several species can be found throughout Hidalgo County.
For the photographer who prefers less mobile subjects, Hidalgo County boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the west. Granite Gap, located on Highway 80, is famous for its balanced rocks and unique formations. Granite boulders of all shapes and sizes, as well as spectacular views of the Chiricahua Mountains and the adjoining valley, tempt the imagination. Likewise, Skeleton Canyon, found south of Rodeo, offers the photographer soaring red cliffs and sweeping vistas. A drive on the Geronimo Trail leads the photographer into the southern reaches of the Peloncillo Mountains and, eventually, up to the scenic overlook where the road tops out at the pass, before twisting down to the Arizona state line. From this crest, the photographer can see far south into distant Mexico.
Hidalgo County is well known for its rustic ghost towns, which are a photographer's delight. Shakespeare Ghost Town, located 2 1/2 miles south of Lordsburg, offers one of the most historically authentic ghost towns in the country. Indeed, several camera and photography clubs have made Shakespeare their destination. Located just off Interstate 10 at exit 3, Stein's Railroad Ghost Town invites visitors the opportunity to see a town that relied on a railroad for its lifeline. And just across the Hidalgo County line in neighboring Grant County is found picturesque Old Hachita, a former mining community. A photographer's dream, Old Hachita sits on BLM land and is completely abandoned. Located just off Highway 9, Old Hachita bears mute testimony to the wild and wooly days of mining in the southwest.
With the exception of Steins, a railroad town, the existence of Hidalgo County's ghost towns was directly linked to mining activity. Nearly every mountain range in the county has its share of abandoned mines, providing the photographer with endless opportunities to document those lonely days of hard work, high hopes and shattered dreams. The Granite Gap area in the Peloncillos offers the photographer easy access off Highway 80 to a variety of abandoned mines. Other areas of mining activity are found in the Peloncillos north of Steins, in the Pyramid Mountains and in the Little Hatchets Mountains.
Always a favorite with photographers are the stately windmills and abandoned homesteads that dot the countryside. Nothing seems to represent the American west more than a windmill photographed in front of one of Hidalgo County's famous sunsets. Herds of grazing cattle, as well as crews of working cowboys, complete the picture. An August visit to the Hidalgo County Fair's photography exhibit reveals a wealth of photographic subjects, as well as local talent, found in the county. When it comes to photography, Hidalgo County offers the photographer, both professional and amateur, countless opportunities.
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