New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment. It’s known for its diverse landscapes, from the stunning Sandia Mountains surrounding Albuquerque to the Chaco Canyon in the northeast to White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns National Park. But it’s not only the geologic diversity that calls people to this wonderous landscape. New Mexico is also culturally diverse, with native tribal reservations and sacred ancestral homelands intermingled with Spanish heritage.
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is one place among many in New Mexico where visitors can learn more about native groups and imagine how life might have been like hundreds of years ago in the Southwest desert. Let’s dive in and look more closely at this national park site and what you can expect when you visit!
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument protects the cliff dwellings of the Mogollon culture. Between the late 1270s and 1300, these people built rooms inside caves where they lived for a generation or two before abandoning their homes. Like many of the Southwest natives, the Mogollon people chose to build cliff dwellings that protected them from enemies and kept them close to the Gila River, where they could take advantage of the fertile Gila River Valley.
Archeologists guess that a few dozen Mogollons constructed the cliff dwellings. Five caves held approximately 40 rooms each, where the people had habitation rooms, storage rooms, ceremonial rooms, and communal rooms. Today, about 40% of the walls retain the original plaster of thin conglomerate slabs laid in large amounts of mortar.
Hot Tip: Check out These Unique New Mexican Mountains when you visit the Land of Enchantment!
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is in western New Mexico in the Gila National Forest. The monument sits off Highway 15, about 90 minutes north of Silver City. I-10 is another 53 miles south of Silver City, while I-25 is to the east of the national monument. Las Cruces sits at the intersection of I-25 and I-10, and the famous hot springs town of Truth or Consequences is north on I-25, about 75 miles from Las Cruces. This area forms the southwest corner of New Mexico.
You won’t find much to do when you visit Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. But if you’re into backpacking, there are plenty of opportunities to explore the Gila wilderness. Below are our suggestions to make the most of your visit!
We always recommend starting every national park site journey at the visitor center. The rangers have a wealth of knowledge about each location and can offer details about closures or warnings. You’ll also find maps and guides.
At the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument visitor, we suggest walking through the small museum with Mogollon artifacts to learn more about these natives. There’s also a 20-minute film that highlights the monument and culture preserved here.
The main attraction of the national monument is the cliff dwellings. It’s free to tour the area on your own. You can pick up a self-guided tour brochure at the visitor center. But if you have time, we suggest booking a ranger-led tour because of the additional insight and knowledge these rangers have about the Mogollon people and the cliff dwellings. Check the park calendar to find times for guided tours.
When you stop in the visitor center, grab a topographic map and ask rangers questions about exploring the Gila wilderness. The trail system and terrain details help backpackers to enjoy their adventure safely. Permits aren’t required, but we suggest leaving an itinerary with a friend.
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument also has a few day hiking trails. You can hike to Jordan Hot Springs, make a canyon loop, or visit the old corrals. The longest hike is 12 miles around the West Fork Loop. It’s essential to check with rangers about the weather as most of these hikes include river crossings and travel through narrow canyons.
Finally, although no camping is permitted in Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, U.S. Forest Service campgrounds are nearby. They cannot accommodate large RVs and don’t offer hookups. But they’re great for small trailers, truck campers, or vans. Camping is free and first-come, first-served.
Because Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is located in southwest New Mexico, rattlesnakes, Gila Monsters, Mexican grey wolves, bears, and mountain lions inhabit the area. Never reach underneath rocks when backpacking in the Gila wilderness or camping in Gila National Forest. Rattlesnakes live near rocky areas but avoid humans. However, they’ll react defensively if startled.
It’s critical to keep your pets leashed when venturing through the wilderness. Throw sticks or rocks at Mexican grey wolves to frighten them away. They’re more drawn to animals than humans, so keep pets close.
As always, follow Leave No Trace principles. Properly dispose of trash and hang food away from your sleeping area if you’re camping in the wilderness or national forest. This keeps wildlife away from your campsite. If you encounter a bear or mountain lion, yell, make yourself appear large, throw rocks, and wave your arms to keep it away.
If you want to avoid crowds at the monument, consider visiting in the shoulder seasons around March or September. Although, ideal backpacking conditions are in May, June, and September. If you want the best weather to explore the Gila wilderness, these are the driest months with the mildest temperatures. July and August are rainy, and snow typically falls in winter.
Hunting is permitted in this area. Spring is turkey season, fall is deer and elk season, and winter is bear and cougar season. Be aware and stay alert.
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is an excellent place to learn more about the natives of Southwest New Mexico. The Mogollon people left artifacts and drawings that give insight into their culture. But the cliff dwellings are the main attraction. To imagine living in the rooms built into caves is difficult for most of us. It’s a culture and history we love learning more about and greatly respect!
Have you ever visited the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument?
