Magdalena
©
Magdalena

Magdalena

High-desert New Mexico village once known as the railhead for the old hoof highway.

A high desert semi-ghost town and genuine wild west icon, Magdalena sits in the shadow of the Magdalena Mountains about 27 miles west of Socorro. For decades it was the end of the "hoof highway" from Arizona — a busy railroad shipping point where hundreds of thousands of cattle were sold and loaded onto trains. The 1915 Santa Fe Depot still stands at the heart of the village.

Today it's a sleepy little place with historic buildings, a small museum, and an offbeat appeal for travellers who want something well off the beaten track. The Very Large Array radio telescope facility is a short drive to the west on US-60, which makes a compelling reason to come this way, and the ghost-mining-town ruins of Kelly sit three miles south in the mountains.

Guide

Getting There

Magdalena is on US Highway 60, about 27 miles west of Socorro on I-25. From Albuquerque it's a 90-mile drive south on the interstate, then west — figure two hours.

There is no public transport. Continuing west on US-60, the highway crosses the Plains of San Agustin past the Very Large Array and on toward the Arizona state line — one of the most desolate and scenic stretches of road in the lower 48.

Guide

Things to Do

Magdalena is a tiny place — the village itself can be seen in a slow afternoon — but the surrounding high desert holds a couple of genuine wonders. The Very Large Array radio telescope is the headline attraction; the rusting bones of nearby mining towns and the railhead history of Magdalena itself are the texture.

Guide

When to Go

Magdalena sits at 6,500 feet, so summers are warm rather than scorching and winters bring cold nights and the occasional snow. April–May and September–October are the most reliable months — clear skies, mild days, and the high desert in flower.

In July and August the monsoon brings dramatic afternoon thunderstorms that build over the mountains — spectacular to watch from the VLA if you keep one eye on the weather. The annual Old Timer's Reunion in early July is the village's big festival, with a parade, rodeo, and dance.