The Gila Wilderness in New Mexico is beautiful and such fun to visit.
The Gila Wilderness is located 80 miles from Mexico in New Mexico. In l541 Coronado came through the are on his first expedition, then in later years Geronimo made raids in the region. The Mogollon civilization had cliff dwellings that are still present. There were many battlegrounds and campgrounds of the U.S. Calvalry and of the Apache Indians in this area. So much of the American frontier is present in the Gila Wilderness with abandoned pioneer cabins and various structures still standing today from the days of outlaws hiding out in secret. When we walk through this beautiful country this era of the frontier seems to just reach out to us and a wonderful feeling of being proud of America dwells within our souls. Our frontier ancestors showed much courage in the face of hardship for many years and it seems as if we can feel this courage when hiking and being in the Gila Wilderness.
In l899 it was known as the Gila River Forest Reserve even before New Mexico became a state. In 1907 the USDA reserved the land as a "national forest." The Gila Wilderness was the worlds first wilderness area established in 1924. Aldo Leopold was the name who worked very hard to make this declaration of the first wilderness. At first there were 755,000 acres and now it encompasses an area of 3,320,l35 acres. More than l,000 square miles of desert uplands are included in this area.
Some species of wildlife in the Gila Wilderness are either extinct or near extinction such as various fish species, the timber wolf, river otter, Gila turkey and the grizzly bear. The mule deer is very plentiful and can be found in most any area of the wilderness. The antlers on the bucks are large and bifurcated, their bodies tend to be from brown to gray and the ears are very large. They will shed their antlers early in the year and there will be a furry new skin that seems to be like velvet that will encase the new growth of antlers. White-tail deer as well are elk can be seen.
Black bears live and feed in the wilderness on different vegetation depending on the habitat and elevations. There are many mountain lions to be found as well as the beaver, badger, bobcat, raccoon, skunks and rabbits. There are tree squirrels, porcupines, weasels and skunks living in the area. The field mouse seems to thrive there as it will eat most anything it is able to capture. There are many birds in different categories such as the ground-insect, timber-drill and others. Many birds migrate to the Gila Wilderness such as the goldfinch and orioles as well as the rosy finch. Woodpeckers, owls and ravens can be seen and heard and the meadowlark sings in the early morning.
Trees occupy a large portion of the wilderness such as the Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, aspens, blue spruce and the lodge pole pine. Juniper and pinion pine trees are on different slopes. Willows, alder, walnut, box elder and cottonwood trees grow in the area. Wildflowers that grow in the Chihuahuan desert and the Sonoran desert are very plentiful with many different beautiful varieties in locations throughout the wilderness. The wildflowers will include the beautiful Indian paintbrush, larkspur, columbine, shooting star and the pasque flower. There are wildflowers in bloom in almost every season. Many cactus species such as the yucca and agave grow in the desert regions.
There are many reptiles and amphibians such as the diamondback rattlesnake, the box turtle, various frogs and toads and the skink. Protected species include the bullfrog and the horned toad as well as others. Some snakes are very deadly and others are harmless. Depending on the time of year there is excellent fishing in the Gilla Wilderness. It would be best to check with the Forest Rangers before fishing as some are protected species such as the endangered Gila trout. Rainbow, brook and brown trout are found in the waters. Hunting is allowed for game animals such as the cougar, bear, white-tailed deer, elk and others but be sure to have the proper permits and license before the season begins. River rafting is available in some areas of the wilderness.
Weather in the Gila Wilderness can differ from season to season but mostly it is the same as in any desert upland in the Southwest. Temperatures for night and day will vary according to the elevation of the area. The climate seems to be less severe than in other Rocky Mountain areas and therefore the public finds this area very comfortable to visit and enjoy. Depending on the harshness of the winter some trails may be open and others closed, check with the Forest Ranger before hiking in case the entire trail is not open. Flash floods can happen after snow melts or after a rainfall so do not camp in the bottoms during the flash flood season. One will need to be cautious when crossing streams or any water as the depth or velocity may not be predetermined.
When hiking in the Gila Wilderness it is prudent to be aware of the problems that might occur such as being lost. Bring maps of the area with you when you hike, also a compass and warm clothing, food and water as you cannot tell when the weather may change. Be sure to pack your backpack or day pack with emergency items for hiking in a wilderness area. Insects can produce painful bites such as the scorpion or the tarantula. It is wise to have first aid supplies on hand for emergency situations. An intestinal parasite known as Giardia can pollute water so it is wise to not drink water from streams and only drink water you have carried with you on the hike. Heat can be very stressful if you overdo hiking or climbing especially if you are not in excellent physical condition. Heat cramps may develop as well as heat exhaustion. Hypothermia because of exertion, or weather can leave you confused or in an unknown mind frame so bring along proper clothing for any weather changes. There are many hazards that can occur when hiking in the wilderness that include sunburn, quicksand, poison ivy, etc.
Cliff Dweller Canyon is the located of the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument with walls in a canyon up to 300 feet. There is a trail that leads to the cliff dwellings. The "Triple Cave" has 3 openings that are separated by natural pillars. These cliff dwellings were constructed after A.D. 1000. These cliff dwellings are very educational and excellent examples of the ancient dwellings of the Gila Wilderness.
There are many trails in the region such as Cress, Whitewater, Holt-apache, South fork Whitewater, Tom Moore, and the Middle Mesa Trail. Consult the Forest Ranger for detailed maps of the area and of the trails.
