Senator Clinton P. Anderson Overlook

The Senator Clinton P. Anderson Overlook sits at 7,333 feet along the Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway, facing 330 degrees toward the northwest. The terrain drops 601 feet within 600 meters of the overlook, giving an open view across the surrounding ridgelines. Alum Mountain rises to the northwest at 6,794 feet, 1.7 miles away, while North Mesa and Whiterocks stand to the north at 10.5 and 11.3 miles, reaching 6,733 and 6,945 feet respectively. Three named springs — River Spring, Dead Horse Spring, and Mesa Spring — lie to the north between 5.6 and 6.2 miles out, each below 6,300 feet in elevation. According to USFS source material, the site includes an interpretive exhibit and overlook of the Gila Wilderness, located on the west side of NM Highway 15 at mile marker 32. The nearest towns are Santa Clara, Silver City, and Bayard, all roughly 23 to 25 miles to the south. Day length varies with the season, with sunrise near 06:05 at the June solstice and 07:13 at the December solstice, and sunset ranging from about 17:10 in December to 20:26 in June.