Cuchillo: Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway, New Mexico

CUCHILLO, named for nearby Cuchillo Negro (Black Knife) Creek, which in turn took its name from a local Apache chief, was settled by Hispanic farmers and ranchers in the 1850s. It became a stop for the stagecoach line and a resting place for travelers in the late 1800s, being midway between the railroad in Engle and the mines near Chloride and Winston. The former stagecoach stop is now a general store, bar, mini-museum, and delightful place to look around. The building dates back to the beginning of the town's history. Old stables and 1907's San Jose Catholic Church are also extant. The annual Pecan Festival is held the last Saturday in February, offers pecan pies and candy, arts and crafts vendors, and entertainment. The proceeds benefit the New Mexico Boys and Girls Ranch. Often called a ghost town, Cuchillo is still home to a good number of permanent residents.
	Please note that there is no gasoline available on the Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway west of Truth or Consequences / Williamsburg and Elephant Butte. This is the majority of the Trail, which runs through some very remote countryside. Fill your tank before you leave! Gasoline is available on Side Trip 5; or, if you choose to follow the Alternate Loop, gas is available at Silver City. Please also note that bridges between Caballo and Hillsboro bear twelve-foot, six-inch height restrictions; and the Forest Service advises not only that trailers over twenty feet are unsafe on Forest Development Road 150, but that low-clearance / non-four-wheel-drive vehicles travel that section of the Trail at their own risk.
What's on the web about Cuchillo?
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Next stop on the E-Tour: a side trip to the villages of Placita and Monticello...
	Enjoy the nature, history, and culture of southwest New Mexico - but don't disturb the natural, historical, and cultural sites. Do not remove, destroy, or deface anything on any site; strict laws protect artifacts on State, Federal, Indian, and private lands. Buying, selling, trading, or transporting these stolen items is also illegal. Please report looting and vandalism to federal land management authorities or the local sheriff. Hide all traces of your travels as the Apache hid their passing so these wildlands may remain unspoiled, the historical sites may remain true to their history, and the developed sites may remain clean and pleasant. Thank you.