Fort Cummings

Fort Cummings is a remote collection of adobe ruins northeast of Deming near historic Cooke’s Spring.

The U.S. Army established the fort in 1863 to protect travelers moving through Cooke’s Canyon from Apache attacks. The nearby spring was especially important because it provided one of the few reliable sources of water for travelers crossing this stretch of desert.

What You’ll See

Very little of the original fort survives today, but portions of the adobe walls, foundations, and nearby cemetery remain scattered across the desert.

Fort Cummings was once surrounded by a large adobe wall and contained barracks, officers’ quarters, a hospital, workshops, stables, and other military buildings. There is no visitor center or reconstructed fort here, just ruins, desert, and Cooke’s Peak rising nearby.

A Stop on the Butterfield Trail

Before the fort existed, Cooke’s Spring served travelers on the Southern Emigrant Trail and the Butterfield Overland Mail route. Butterfield stagecoaches carried passengers and mail across southern New Mexico between 1858 and 1861, connecting the eastern United States with California.

Getting There

Fort Cummings is about 6 miles off Highway 26 on a rough, unpaved road.

At 32°25’44.3”N 107°35’16.7”W, you will reach a gate and junction. Follow the road to the left, where there should be a sign or arrow pointing toward Fort Cummings. The road straight ahead appears to cross private property and likely dead-ends.

At 32°25’43.9”N 107°36’13.0”W, you will reach another split. Stay right and continue toward the fort. The road is rocky, uneven, and slow going. Expect to travel around 10 mph in a normal vehicle. High clearance and good tires are strongly recommended, and the road should be avoided after rain.

Final Take

Fort Cummings is for serious history fans or people already exploring the backroads around Deming. There is not much left to see and the road is terrible, but the stark setting does help you imagine how isolated and vital this outpost once was. If you’re interested in exploring frontier fort history, Fort Craig or Fort Selden are better choices for most visitors.