Explore ancient cliff dwelling on remote hike

The Gila Cliff Dwellings are among the few remaining where visitors can
enter the ancient homes.

Gila Cliff Dwellings map. Click for larger version.

Day hikers can explore an ancient cliff dwelling on a remote trail in southwestern New Mexico.

The 1.1-mile lollipop Gila Cliff Dwellings Trail sits in the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument near Pinos Altos. You’ll gain 180 feet elevation as climbing from the river valley through Cliff Dweller Canyon.

The cliff dwellings are off the beaten path, as you’ll drive a lot of winding mountain road to get here. The scenery along the way and the trail at the national monument are worth it, though. To reach the trailhead, from Silver City simply take N.M. Hwy. 15 north. Plan for this drive to take a lot longer to drive than you’d expect, as it can’t be done at 55 mph. The road literally ends at a parking lot with the trailhead on the southwest corner.

River and canyon
Though the trail is short, you’ll cross four different ecological zones – riparian, canyon, desert and forest. The trail begins in the riparian river area with a bridge over the West Fork Gila River.

After crossing the river, the loop begins. Go left/south on it. The trail heads up a canyon that shade trees and a creek keep cooler than the surrounding, sun-exposed cliffs.

About a quarter-mile into the hike, you’ll come to a viewpoint of the cliff dwelling. This is about the best spot to get a photo of the entire set of dwellings.

Continuing on the loop, the next 180 feet will be steep. After looping around to the trail’s west side, the route is more manageable.

Cliff dwellings
At last, the trail arrives at the cliff dwellings. Gila Cliff is one of the few parks that allows visitors to enter cliff dwellings, so take this opportunity.

The dwellings are in fairly good condition given that they were constructed 700 years ago. Even the wood used in the original construction remains. Six alcoves in all make up the structure.

Entering the dwellings, you can go through several of the 42 rooms. They are mostly empty, and some can be accessed only by ladder, but it’s fascinating, nonetheless.

The ancient Puebloan of the Mogollon area built the dwellings between 1260 and 1280 CE. In the river valley below their dwellings, they grew fields of beans, corn and squash and on the surrounding mesa hunted wild game while gathering wild edible plants. They also made beautiful, distinctive pottery.

Why they abandoned the area by around 1300 is unclear, but archeologists suspect climate changes briefly dried out the area.

Desert and forest
The trail next heads through the cliff’s desert-like slopes back to the base of the canyon. Watch your step for the loose gravel and uneven stone steps.

Rising around the canyon is a pine and fir forest. The trail heads through some of this on the way back to the parking lot.

The park typically is open at 9 am to 5 pm, except on Christmas and New Years Day., and visitors are not admitted after 4 pm. No food or gum is allowed on the trail. An on-site kennel for pets is available. Cell phones do not work anywhere on or near the trail.

Day trails abound at Gila Cliff Dwellings

Little Bear Canyon

There’s much more to see at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument than the spectacular ancient ruins. Hot springs, river valley vistas, a pictograph panel, and riverside walks all await on day hikes. Among the trails to see those sights are:

• Middle Fork Trail – Day hikers can head to a hot springs on this 1-mile round trip trail. The Lightfeather Hot Springs boasts an average temperate of 130 F. Don't go into the springs, though – it contains an amoeba that causes a potentially fatal form of meningitis. The hikes includes two river crossings in which the water is about 2 feet deep. From the Gila Visitor Center parking lot, take the trail heading along the Middle Fork Gila River.
• Trail #160 – A ridge overlooking the West Fork of the Gila River and Little Creek awaits on this 6.5-mile round trip. The trail gains 970 feet in elevation. Start at the Woody's Corral Trailhead, about a mile from the visitor center on the road to the cliff dwellings.
• Little Bear Canyon Trail (aka Trail #729) – Hikers can walk through an otherworldly spring-fed slot canyon carved out by the Middle Fork Gila River on this 8.5-mile round trip hike. Be aware that only the final 0.44 miles of the hike is in the slot canyon. Start at the TJ Corral Trailhead, which is about a mile from the visitor center on the road to the cliff dwellings.
• Trail to the Past – The ruins of a single ancient Puebloan dwelling sit at the head of a canyon on this 0.5-mile round trip trail. The trail also passes a large pictograph panel along the river. The trailhead is next to the Lower Scorpion Campground.
• West Fork Trail – For a short but scenic walk, try this 0.34-mile round trip walk along the pretty west fork of the Gila River. The trailhead is next to the Cliff Dwellings parking lot and can be done in conjunction with a hike to the ancient complex.

To reach the Gila Cliff Dwellings, from Silver City, N.M., take N.M. Hwy. 15 north. The road ends in the national monument.