More on Gila Cliff in Gila National Forest Explore Devils Creek Wilderness
In 1880, the Apache warrior Victorio razed the town of Cooney - - the eerie ghost town that remains warns us that this hostile terrain is to be visited, but never settled. Devils Creek is 100,000 acres of roadless wilderness and acts as the northern extension of the Mogollon Mountains. The wilderness, with its stands of ponderosa pine and mixed conifer, serves as a refuge for the northern goshawk, flammulated owl, and the Mexican spotted owl.

Keep your Eyes Open for Javelina
What's a javelina, you ask? The javelina (aka collared peccary) is a pig-like creature (though not related) that resembles a wild boar. They travel in herds of 8 to 27 and weigh anywhere from 40 to 60 pounds. Coyotes and humans hunt them. Other wildlife you might come across include the Gila monster - - one of only two venomous lizards in the world. The Gila monster is pink with yellow and black shading, stout legs, and a powerful lower jaw.

Soak in Jordan Hot Springs
An 8-mile all-day hike upstream from the visitor's center will get you to Jordan Hot Springs. Many consider this one of the most beautiful spots in the Gila. The deep pool is sheltered by a massive rock covered with emerald moss and ringed by sycamores and ferns. The pool's waters are a muscle-relaxing 100 degrees Fahrenheit. On the way, you'll come across the Middle Fork Springs located just a half-mile north of the visitor's center. The water comes out at a scalding 130 degrees Fahrenheit, so visitors have dug out a number of pools where the spring water mixes with the cooler river water, creating a more bearable temperature.

Walk the Catwalk
The Catwalk is a national recreation trail that follows the path of a pipeline built in the 1890s to deliver water to the mining town of Graham. Metal walkways bolted to the sheer rock face penetrate the narrow canyon of Whitewater Creek - - a canyon used by both Geronimo and Butch Cassidy as a hideout. Signs warn of scorpions and rattlesnakes. At the end of the Catwalk, a swaying suspension bridge leads to a cavern ledge overlooking a monstrous waterfall.

Mountain Bike the Gila
The Great Divide Route, a mountain bike route running for some 2,500 miles between Canada and Mexico, snakes its way for 850 miles through the desert, high mesas and mountains of the Land of Enchantment. The last stretch slithers through the grueling Gila and meanders through canyon country that once served as an Apache stronghold for Geronimo and his warriors.

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