 Summary: Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument offers a glimpse of the homes and lives of the people of the Mogollon culture who lived in the Gila Wilderness from the 1280s through the early 1300s. The surroundings probably look today very much like they did when the cliff dwellings were inhabited.
The cliff dwellings are surrounded by the Gila National Forest. It lies in the middle of the Gila Wilderness, the nation's first designated wilderness area. Wilderness designation means that the wilderness character of the area will not be altered by the intrusion of roads or other evidence of human presence.
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| Features:
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Activities:
Guided tours of the Cliff Dwellings are offered daily at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. as part of the entrance fee. Please note that the tours start at the Cliff Dwellings and it takes about a half hour to walk up to them from the trailhead. A self-guided tour is available when the Monument is open and an accompanying booklet is available at the Visitor Center and the trailhead Contact Station.
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Area Attractions:
Gila Cliff Dwellings is in the middle of Gila National Forest which lies in the middle of the Gila Wilderness.
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| Food & Sundries: |
 Directions:
Take State Highway 15 from Silver City. Travel time is approximately two hours. An alternative route from Silver City goes through the Mimbres Valley. It is less windy, easier to travel and takes about the same amount of time as State Highway 15. However, it is 25 miles longer. Call ahead for winter road conditions. State Highway 15 is a narrow, mountainous, windy road, and is not plowed for snow on weekends or at night. Trailers over 20 feet must take an alternate route on Highway 61/35.
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Local Towns:
Silver City, Mimbres, Gila Hot Springs and Pinos Altos.
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Local Accommodations:
Silver City, Mimbres, Gila Hot Springs and Pinos Altos
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Camping & RV:
Forks Campground
Open All Year
Details
The Forks Campground provides primitive camping opportunities along the West Fork of the Gila River. The Forks Campground is a Forest Service campground located approximately six miles south of the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument just off NM State Hwy 15 and just north of the Gila River Bridge. The only water available is from the West Fork and must be either filtered, boiled, or chemically treated. No tables or grills provided. Four pit toilets are available on site. Camping is free of charge and is based upon a first come first served basis. more »
Grapevine Campground
Open
Open All Year
Details
The Grapevine Campground provides primitive camping opportunities along the West Fork of the Gila River. The Grapevine Campground is a Forest Service campground located approximately six miles south of the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument just off NM State Hwy 15 and just south of the Gila River Bridge. The only water available is from the West Fork and must be either filtered, boiled, or chemically treated. No tables or grills provided. Two pit toilets are available on site. Camping is free of charge and is based upon a first come first served basis.
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Lower Scorpion Campground
Open
Open All Year
Details
The Lower Scorpion Campground is a Forest Service campground located on the north side of NM State Hwy 15 and within 1/4 of a mile from the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument parking lot. The Lower Scorpion Campground offers developed campsites with picnic tables, grills. Currently the water system is under reconstruction and there is no running water or flush toilets. Camping at the Lower Scorpion is free and is based upon a first come first served basis. Also, from the Lower Scorpion Campground parking lot, visitors may access the "Trail To the Past". This trail accesses a two room cliff dwelling as well as some very interesting pictograph rock art. Trail to the Past is handicapped accessible (for viewing of pictographs only) Although the campground is open year round, the restroom is closed during the winter months. The nearest restrooms are at TJ Corral and the West Fork trailhead.
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Upper Scorpion Campground
Open
Open All Year
Details
The Upper Scorpion Campground is a Forest Service campground located on the north side of NM State Hwy 15 and within 1/4 of a mile from the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument parking lot. The Upper Scorpion Campground offers developed campsites with picnic tables, grills. The water system is currently under reconstruction and there is no running water or flush toilets. Camping at the Upper Scorpion is free and is based upon a first come first served basis. The nearest restrooms are at the West Fork trailhead.
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 Notes:
From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, the Cliff Dwellings are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and the multi-agency Gila Visitor Center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The rest of the year, the Cliff Dwellings are open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the Gila Visitor Center is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Please note that New Mexico is on Mountain Daylight time. If you come from Arizona, please allow for the time difference.
The Cliff Dwellings and trailhead Contact Station are open every day of the year. The Gila Visitor Center is open every day except Christmas and New Year's days. |
