Mule Creek, NM

Mule Creek sits at 5,230 feet elevation in a beautiful valley surrounded by grassy hills that turn bright green during the summer rains.

New Mexico highway 78, which connects southeastern Arizona to US highway 180, is part of an alternative to the busy I-10 and I-25 freeways between Tucson and Albuquerque. This paved road isn't suitable for long vehicles, and summer thunderstorms can sometimes block the road temporarily at washes near Mule Creek. But the wide open spaces, and the spectacular vistas of southern Arizona deserts as you climb into the high Gila country, make the drive well worthwhile.