Wildlife abound in Gila National Forest. A common big game species on the Gila is the Rocky Mountain mule deer. There also are many of the beautiful Sonoran whitetail or"Coues" deer. Antelope find forage on the grassland areas, and black bear, deer and turkey are found throughout the forest. Javelina, or peccary, prefer to live in the warmer parts of the Gila. Where the now extinct Merriam's elk once reigned, the majestic Rocky Mountain elk now roam in significant numbers ranging from the lower elevations of piqon and juniper country up into the aspen high country. Ft. Bayard Wildlife Refuge, east of Silver City, offers the unique possibility of viewing elk habits during the fall breeding season. In 1964, bighorn sheep were reintroduced into the Gila country and have since held their own.

Photo Credit:
Shriram Krishnamurthi

The Gila's other wildlife include the reclusive mountain lion, porcupines, bobcats, ringtails, coatis, several species of bats, many small mammals, and 291 species of birds, including golden eagles, goshawks, and the great horned, flammulated and Mexican spotted owls. Altogether, there are 453 species of vertebrates to be found in the Gila, including 35 sensitive, threatened, or endangered species.

Fishing

A pleasant surprise to many Gila visitors is the number and quality of fishing streams found here — almost 500 miles' worth. Stream species range from lower-elevation flathead and channel catfish, to bass in the middle reaches, and wild brown and stocked rainbow trout above 6,000 feet. Hidden deep in the Gila's wildernesses are the southernmost native populations of Rio Grande cutthroat trout and, rarest of all, the unique, endangered Gila trout. Presently protected from fishing, this golden-colored native might once again be sought by anglers thanks to ongoing restoration efforts.

The finest stream fishing awaits those who are willing to"pack in". Major streams at least partially accessible by road include all forks of the Gila River, upper San Francisco, Willow Creek, Negrito Creek, and Whitewater Creek. Trout can also be taken at such popular lakes as Quemado, Lake Roberts, Snow Lake, Wall Lake, and Bear Canyon Reservoir. The Gila's river systems are also a refuge for such sensitive, threatened, and endangered species as the spikedace, loach minnow, and Chihuahua and roundtail chubs.

Points of Interest

VLA (Very Large Array) - Just off the northeast edge of the forest, the VLA is the largest configuration of Radio Telescopes in the world, probing the mysteries that lie beyond the Milky Way.

Aldo Leopold Vista - Situated along NM 180, this picnic area overlooks the spectacular western ranges of the Gila Wilderness.

Senator Clinton P. Anderson Overlook - Views into river canyons and wild ranges colored in bright reds and yellows, this vista overlooks the eastern ramparts of the Gila Wilderness and honors one of the pioneers of the Wilderness Act.

Gila Visitor Center/Wilderness District Office - Offers a variety of services including a small museum, an excellent selection of books and other items, and information about the Gila Wilderness and the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in winter; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. in summer.

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument - A 1-mile loop trail leads the visitor up a shady canyon into the past and opens a window into the lives and homes of Indians who lived here from the 1280's to the early 1300's.

Emory Pass Vista - Perched at the top of the Black Range, Emory Pass Vista gives sweeping views across the mountains, over the Rio Grande Valley and Caballo Reservoir, to the distant San Andres Mountains, beyond which lies White Sands National Monument.

Fort Bayard National Recreation Trails - A network of trails leading to the Big Tree, the Old Wagon Road and Wood Haul Road. Fort Bayard is an early Army post built during Apache uprisings in the late 1800s.

Apache Creek Archeological Interpretive Site - A classic Mimbres village of ancient walls and great kiva lying along the Tularosa River, this site tells the story of a people famed for their pottery and art. A nearby trail leads to the mesa top and interprets petroglyphs scattered along the rimrock.

Catwalk National Recreation Trail - Suspended over Whitewater Creek on a metal catwalk, or meandering along the cool and colorful canyon, the Catwalk NRT is a famous and fascinating trail highlighting the history of mining in the Mogollon Range.

Gila Bird Area - Home to 130 species of birds including rare Mexican visitors like the BlackHawk and Elf Owl, this area was set aside as bird habitat in 1972 and continues to offer outstanding viewing opportunities year-round.

Scenic Driving

A favorite route is the 110-mile Inner Loop Scenic Byway: from Silver City to Mimbres Valley, down Sapillo Creek, across the Pinos Altos Mountains and back to Silver City, with a side trip to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Other beautiful and scenic drives are from Silver City to Hillsboro over the south end of the Black Range; and a 235-mile route known as the Outer Loop from Silver City through Glenwood, Reserve and Beaverhead to a junction with the Inner Loop near the village of Mimbres. You may enjoy the tall timber around Reserve or Willow Creek, the famous Catwalk National Recreation Trail in Whitewater Canyon near Glenwood, the historic Fort Bayard area, or the fabled gold mining ghost town of Mogollon.

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