Located in the Gila National Forest in New Mexico.

The Gila Wilderness is located in southwestern New Mexico, lying west of the Continental Divide in Catron and Grant Counties. It is about 25 miles north of Silver City, 3 miles east of Glenwood, 44 miles south of Reserve, and 22 miles northwest of Mimbres. Its mosaic of vegetative types, climatic conditions, and topographic features, enriched by abundant solitude, offer a challenge to visitors. The variety of plant and animal life, supported by varied ecologic niches, provides a greater opportunity for informal nature study and scientific study than is available in most southwestern wildernesses. The pleasant blending of natural resources in an untrammeled state, where the mark of man and his activities is relatively obscure, makes this wilderness an outstanding area to visit. An extensive trail system provides a variety of hiking and horseback opportunities within a total land area of 558,065 acres. One option is to start at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, from which you can follow the West Fork of the Gila River and continue on past dramatic canyons and ridgetop trails for a 30 or 60 mile loop hike.

For more information contact: Gila National Forest.