Wandering to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

20251130-go-gila — You can get a good view of the Gild Wilderness from New Mexico Highway 15.

David Ryan David Ryan David Ryan For GO New Mexico

Published December 1, 2025 - 7:00 a.m. Modified December 1, 2025 - 7:00 a.m.

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Hike information has been adapted from “Wandering in the Clear Light of New Mexico” by David Ryan. The book features New Mexico’s special places and is available at local bookstores. Ryan also co-authored the 3rd edition of “60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Albuquerque” with Stephan Ausherman. Find both at local bookstores.

With the government shutdown over, now is a good time to revisit our great national parks and monuments. And if you’re heading south, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument near Silver City is a great place for an adventure.

There you can hit the trifecta of driving to the edge of the Gila Wilderness, checking out a very cool cliff dwelling, and hiking to a natural hot spring.

The mountainous drive to the national monument from Silver City on New Mexico Highway 15 provides many incredible views of the rugged Gila Wilderness. Aldo Leopold, who worked for the Forest Service and lived in Albuquerque 100 years ago, proposed protecting the Gila area from all development in 1921. Through his efforts, the Gila area became the nation’s (and the world’s) first officially designated wilderness area in 1924.

The cliff dwellings at the national monument were built by Mogollon people around 1270 and were occupied until around 1300. The free one-mile loop hike to the cliff dwellings from the parking area doesn’t allow dogs. (Cages are available to kennel them.)

The hike crosses the West Fork of the Gila River on a footbridge to enter a lush and gorgeous canyon. A combination of paths and stair steps takes you up 180 feet to the dwellings. There you have fantastic views of the canyon down below and of the dwellings further ahead. The path continues through the dwellings and back to your car.

You can also hike from the same parking area into the Gila Wilderness proper. Another option is to return two miles to the visitor center, where you can hike to the undeveloped Lightfeather Hot Springs. Both of these hikes allow dogs.

The easy hike to Lightfeather has two river crossings and is less than a mile each way.

You’ll spot the hot springs when you see volunteer-built enclosures in the river. The hot water source is only a few feet away and comes out of the ground at 130 degrees. The enclosures allow the hot water to mix with cooler river water for a comfortable soak.

Whether you hike to the hot spring or not, the Cliff Dwellings and seeing the rugged Gila Wilderness makes this a wonderful journey. For more information, check nps.gov/gicl.