Established
in 1924 as the first forest wilderness preserve
in the United States, the Gila Wilderness offers
the ultimate outdoor experience in the
Southwest.
A
vast tract of 438,000 acres, set in the much
larger Gila National Forest (2.7 million
acres), this completely unspoiled landscape is a
refuge for outdoor lovers with its deep canyons
featuring desert agave vegetation, hot springs,
400 miles of fishing streams and -- on the upper
slopes -- thick forests of spruce and
fir.
Located
in southwestern New Mexico, the wilderness area
is reached by taking State Highway 90 from
Lordsburg (on Interstate 10), through the
historic mining towns of Silver City and
Piños Altos, and continuing north into
the national forest.
Next
to the protected wilderness is the Gila Cliff
Dwellings National Monument, a series of
homes set in high caves above the middle fork of
the Gila River. The Monument, with its visitor
center, is the information and take-off point
for hiking and riding in the Gila
Wilderness.
The
Mogollon Indians lived here for only ten years,
nearly 700 years ago. The structures were built
with stone, mud, and timbers, which still remain
on view. The Mogollon used the cliff dwellings
as a base for farming, hunting and
fishing.
Three
hot springs are located near the cliff
dwellings, accessed by short hikes. Scorpion
Campground, near the base of the dwellings,
is the main entry point to the Gila
Wilderness.
This
is a place where time stands still and feelings
of peace and natural grandeur overcome the
visitor.
Other
more "civilized" recreation areas lie within the
national forest at Lake Roberts, Bear
Canyon Lake, and the Mimbres Valley.
Here, the legacy of the Mimbres Indians is seen:
abandoned villages and farming lands, and hot
springs where the Mimbres, a branch of the
Mogollon, gathered.
Remnants
of the early Spanish age of exploration, and of
Tchi-he-nde Apache habitation, are also on
display. It is a region of few gas stations,
motels and modern distractions; an incomparable,
wild place.
There
are few places where one can see a herd of
longhorn antelope, or javelina, quietly going
about their daily functions: feeding, frisking,
making sounds, spending quiet moments resting,
without the artificial environment of a national
park with a few hundred other people gazing at
the same display. Finding a hot spring
disgorging water near the riverside, with
natural pools created over thousand of years:
this is another experience that can only be had
in only a very few special places. Here, in the
Gila Wilderness, these kinds of experiences are
possible.
The
essence of a wilderness area is that the
dedicated nature lover must expend his or her
own energy to get there, by hiking. Parking in a
parking lot and walking around for a few minutes
won't do it. Even camping in an organized
campground does not provide the ultimate natural
experience. You have to work to fully appreciate
the natural wonders of the Gila Wilderness. Set
apart, miles from the urban scene and commercial
functions of society, this area is a truly
special place, once the refuge of Geronimo and
his Chiricahua Apache warriors, now preserved
for all to enjoy.
On
the next five pages, you'll find hiking
opportunities, the geology of the region, and
other attractions in the Wilderness and the Gila
Cliff Dwellings National Monument.
Geology