Day
Hikes
The
following short hikes begin in the area of the
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument visitor
center. They are short, relatively easy routes
which lead along the river forks or into nearby
canyons. The trails cross the rivers, requiring
good footwear and the use of caution. The water
level of the forks can change within a short
time and common sense is necessary before
walking into the streams.
West
Fork Trail
The
first five-mile portion of the much longer West
Fork Trail is probably the most popular hike
from the National Monument. With the trailhead
at the cliff dwellings parking lot (#151), the
trail crosses the river often, making summer and
fall the best seasons for the hike. Along the
way you'll see the Grudging Cabin on the south
bank. Some walkers only go as far as the rock
cave, another cliff dwelling, at mile 3.1. White
Rocks Canyon, a side canyon, is at mile 3.75.
Ring Canyon is 8.5 miles. Hell's Hole Canyon, a
very scenic ending point for many, is 12.75
miles from the trailhead.
Middle
Fork Trail
This
is another short hike along a portion of a
longer trail (see below). The trailhead (#157)
is near the end of the visitor center parking
lot. Go to the end of the parking area and turn
right. Like the trail on the West Fork, this
trail stays at river level. Two miles along the
trail are hot springs, a popular Apache
recreation spot in the days of Geronimo and
Cochise. It's a fine place to soak in the early
morning and evening hours. The hike continues
along and across the river, passing several side
canyons. This is one of the most scenic walks in
the wilderness area, with a mixed forest on the
canyon bottom and high rock cliffs ascending
from the riverside.
Stock
Bypass Loop Trail
From
the trailhead at TJ Corral, take Trail # 729.
The corral is one mile from the visitor center
on the road to the cliff dwellings. Follow Trail
#729 and bear left at the junction, onto the
bypass trail. Walk down the bypass trail for
2.75 miles until you reach the West Fork Trail
(#151). Take the West Fork Trail (east), ending
at the cliff dwellings parking lot. The loop is
4.25 miles long.
EE
Canyon Loop
This
longer hike covers 8 miles with an ascent of 970
feet. The trailhead (#160) is at Woody's Corral,
one mile along the road to the cliff dwellings.
The trail climbs on the first 3.25 miles, to the
top of the ridge which separates the West Fork
and Little Creek canyons. There is a junction.
Take Trail #162 to the right (west) and follow
the ridge for .75 mile until you arrive at the
junction with EE Canyon Trail (#151). Take EE
Canyon Trail north, descending for 2 miles
through EE Canyon, arriving at the West Fork
Trail. Turn right and walk downriver for one
mile to the cliff dwellings parking lot. Woody's
Corral is one mile from the trailhead.
Little
Bear Canyon Loop
This
8-mile hike begins at TJ Corral, via Trail #729.
Walk for two miles to the top of the ridge
between the West Fork and the East Fork. This
route crosses the junction with Trail #164, but
we keep on a straight course for another 2 miles
through Little Bear Canyon, arriving at the
Middle Fork. Retrace the route to return to TJ
Corral.
Backcountry
Hikes
With
more than 300 miles of hiking and riding trails
in the Gila Wilderness and more trails leading
through the surrounding national forest, a hiker
has a grand buffet of hiking routes from which
to choose. A comprehensive listing of these
trails would take a book of its own. Serious
backpackers interested in backcountry hiking
should pick up a copy of John Murray's excellent
book The Gila Wilderness, A Hiking Guide.
The
following trails are among the most
well-traveled and well-marked backcountry routes
in the wilderness preserve, some of which lead
to other trailheads and to further exploration.
All five trails are accessed from roads in or
near the Gila Cliff Dwellings National
Monument.
Meadows
Trail
(Cliff Dwellings to the Meadows)
Access:
The West Fork trailhead is located at the
Gila Cliff Dwellings parking lot. Drive from the
national monument visitor center, past the
Scorpion Campgrounds, and park at the lot next
to the small cliff dwellings info center.
The
Hike: This is a popular two-or three-day
hike, with a length of 9 miles. This short
backcountry hike may be used by too many people
during July and August to be very fulfilling.
Therefore, a spring or fall visit is suggested
in order to see the beautiful Meadows.
The
Trail: Begins by taking Trail #151, the West
Fork Trail from the trailhead. This popular
trail follows the river before reaching the
junction with Trail #28. This is the Zig Zag
Trail, which leads toward the Meadows. This
trail, originally carved out by cattle, climbs
to the top of the canyon. After the climb (about
three hours), it meets Trail #164, the Woodland
Park--Lilley Park Trail. Stay on Trail #28,
climbing to the top of a ridge and then
descending to cross Trail #156, the Prior Cabin
Trail. Stay on Trail #28 to reach the rim of
West Fork Canyon.
The
river is 1,000 feet below the rim. The trail
descends into the Meadows, a wonderfully open,
grassy area, perfect for an overnight stay,
either in the grassy meadow area or amongst the
pine trees. This trail can be done as a day
hike, but you'll wind up spending no time at all
in the Meadows. Camping overnight is the
solution. Many people who hike to the Meadows
are so enchanted that they stay for two
nights.
West
Fork Trail
(National
Monument to Willow Creek)
Access:
If you're riding, the place to saddle-up is TJ
Corral, which provides access to the West Fork
side trail along the river, leading to the main
trailhead at the Gila Cliff Dwellings parking
lot. Those without horses should head straight
for the cliff dwellings parking lot.
The
Hike:
Almost 35 miles long, this trail (#151) is
best done in the summer months when the river is
low and the frequent river crossings are
relatively easy. For experienced backcountry
people, this is a three-day hike. Many do it in
four.
The
Trail:
The first part of the hike is along the West
Fork Trail described above. There will be other
people on the first five miles or so, the
popular day hike route. White Creek Canyon is at
15.5 miles. After passing the mouth of White
Creek, the trail leads along the West Fork for
half a mile, and then leaves the West Fork,
climbing to Cub Mesa, ascending 940 feet. The
route traverses Cub Mesa and crosses Packsaddle
Canyon, into Jackass Park before dropping down
into West Fork Canyon, at the mouth of Cub
Creek. It leads for 1.25 miles up the West Fork
before reaching the beginning of the fork, where
Turkeyfeather Creek and Cub Creek meet to form
the Gila. The route (still Trail #151) leads up
Turkeyfeather Creek to higher country at
Turkeyfeather Pass, then descends to Iron Creek.
The trail climbs to Iron Creek Lake, and crosses
Iron Creek Mesa before descending to Willow
Creek, the Willow Creek Campground, and Forest
Road 507 which meets Bursum Road (Route
159).
Middle
Fork Trail
(Visitor
Center to Gilita Campground)
Access:
This trail (#157) is the longest single trail in
the Gila Wilderness system. It is 36 miles from
the trailhead at the visitor center parking lot,
to the campground at Snow Lake. It is another
5.1 miles if you want the hike to end at Gilita
Campground which has quick access to Bursum
Road. Forest Road 142 leads from Snow Lake to
Bursum Road. The advantage of ending the hike at
Snow Lake is a possible night beside the lake
before pickup. At least six days should be
reserved for this trip, staring with a soak in
the hot springs at the 2-mile point.
The
Trail:
This moderately difficult trail should be
taken in the summer and early fall, when the
river is low enough to permit crossing. The
trail follows the Middle Fork for almost all of
the route, passing through deep canyons, across
lava flows, past cliff dwellings, and through
wonderful streamside woodlands. There are many
river crossings, about a hundred, over sand or
cobble. As with the West Fork Trail, this route
intersects with many other wilderness trails,
including the Meadows Trail. A side-trip to the
Meadows could add an extra day.
A
warning about quicksand: there are patches of
quicksand along the Middle Fork and hikers
should be cautious before setting out to cross
the river at one of the many crossings. It helps
to stay out of wet areas and cross where there
is a definite dry crossing.
Gila
River Trail
(Grapevine
Campground to Turkey Creek)
Access:
This trail (#724) does not begin at the national
monument but is across the road from Grapevine
Campground, at the Upper Gila River Bridge,
south of the village of Gila Hot Springs. This
is another long streamside walk, on the main
river below the confluences with the
tributaries.
The
Hike:
This part of the Gila is also a prime rafting
stream, and you may see rafters on the river.
The hike is 32.5 miles long&emdash;from the
bridge to a backroad near Turkey Creek.
The
Trail:
Starting in the Gila Wilderness, the trail
follows the river out of the wilderness
boundary, and then proceeds through the national
forest for another 25 miles. There are hot
springs along the way, including an early
possible soak less than 2 miles from the bridge
trailhead. Another hot spring pool is at Turkey
Creek. The trail passes several cliff dwellings.
There is good fishing for a variety of fish,
including trout and catfish.
Granny
Mtn. Loop
(Woody's Corral to/from Gila River)
Access:
The trailhead is at Woody's Corral, on the road
to the Gila Cliff Dwellings, in the national
monument. Woody's Corral is half- way down this
road, between the area of the visitor center and
the cliff dwellings trailhead.
The
Hike:
A 35-mile route (trails 160, 159, 155, 161),
this is just one of the many possible loop hikes
through the Gila Wilderness, by using several
trails for a circle trip. Only the limits of
your imagination will limit the choices.
The
Trails:
Granny Mtn. Trail (#160) runs down the West
Fork, in a southerly direction, until it meets
the Gila River. However, we will leave this
trail before reaching the river.
At
Miller Spring, where there is good drinking
water, take the Miller Spring Tail (#159) to the
junction with the Turkey Creek Trail (#155), and
take Turkey Creek Trail to Little Creek Spring.
You'll find the Little Creek Trail (#161) which
leads back to the Granny Mtn. Trail and Woody's
Corral.
This
is a long trip with ups and downs, along the
side of several mountains, and requires a
minimum of three days.
House
Log Canyon & Meadows Hot Springs
Access:
Via the Middle Fork Trail. Drive into the
national monument visitor center parking lot, go
to the end and find the trailhead to the right
of the parking lot.
The
Hike:
This 9.5-mile hike along the Middle Fork can be
arduous for novice hikers, with more than 40
river crossings. It does result in finding a
very satisfying primitive hot spring pool
(unmarked on any map) where water flows out of
the ground, at a temperature of 92° F., and
directly into a small, natural pool. Hike a mile
farther up the Middle Fork and you''ll find
another hot spring pool (Meadows), where Indian
Creek Canyon meets the Middle Fork.
The
Trail:
The Middle Fork Trail is best-hiked during low
water periods, in the summer and fall months. It
is not a strenuous hike, as the route follows
the canyon bottom for the entire route. Because
there are so many crossings in the 10.5-mile
walk to the two hot springs, this adventure
should not be considered earlier in the year.
The Gila Wilderness Visitor's Travel Guide and
Map is a good guide to the canyon locations
along the Middle Fork.
Click
on the arrow to navigate the guided tour of the
Gila Wilderness,or go to the individual
chapters.
