Drives New Mexico Southern New Mexico
Highway 152: Caballo Lake to Hillsboro
NM 152 · Caballo Lake → Hillsboro
The drive
Highway 152 heads west from the NM 187 junction near Caballo Lake and climbs out of the Rio Grande valley toward the Black Range in rolling bends. It is the foothill approach to Emory Pass, and the drive ends at Hillsboro, where the pass climb begins.
Hillsboro began in 1877 after prospectors struck gold near Percha Creek. It was the center of a gold district and the county seat, and it held on after the 1893 silver crash that emptied the sister camps of Kingston and Lake Valley. Today about a hundred people live here, and the Black Range Historical Museum has exhibits on the mining boom.
NM 152 continues over Emory Pass, covered as a separate drive.
Along the way
- Caballo Lake (NM-152 east end)
- Hillsboro
Good to know
- The Black Range crest trailheads at Emory Pass are farther along NM 152, beyond this drive.
- Storm damage has closed NM 152 in past years; check road status before a long trip.
- Hillsboro is a small village of about a hundred people.
Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check NMDOT NMRoads.
Questions about this drive
How long does Highway 152 from Caballo Lake to Hillsboro take?
Highway 152 from Caballo Lake to Hillsboro is 16.8 miles and takes about 30 minutes.
What is Hillsboro, New Mexico known for?
Hillsboro began in 1877 as a gold camp near Percha Creek and was long the county seat; the Black Range Historical Museum has exhibits on its mining boom.
Where does NM 152 go after Hillsboro?
NM 152 continues west over Emory Pass in the Black Range to San Lorenzo and Santa Clara.
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More drives near here
Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.