Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument offers a glimpse of the homes and lives of the

people of the Mogollon culture who lived there from the 1280s through the early 1300s. The surroundings probably look today very much like they did when the cliff dwellings were inhabited. It is surrounded by the Gila National Forest and lies at the edge of the Gila Wilderness, the nation's first designated wilderness area. This designation means that the wilderness character of the area will not be altered by the intrusion of roads or other evidence of human presence.

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, containing 533 acres, was established on November 16, 1907. Administration of the monument was transferred from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to the U.S. Department of the Interior on August 10, 1933. In the spring of 1975, the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service signed a cooperative agreement whereby the Gila National Forest is responsible for administration of the monument.

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Basic Information on Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
Memorial Day to Labor Day, the monument is open 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.,
and visitor center is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The rest of the year, the monument is open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the visitor center is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

How to Get to Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

What is the Nearest Airport to Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument - Closest major air service is in El Paso or Tucson

How to Drive to Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument - 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.

Weather & Climate
Mild climate, with rainy season July to August. Spring and Fall have moderate days and cool nights. Winter months often have nice afternoons with cold mornings and nights.

Accessibility
Trail to the Past is handicapped accessible (for viewing of pictographs) as is the visitor center. Because the 1-mile loop trail through the cliff dwellings is steep in places and winds to and through cliff dweller canyon, it is not considered accessible.

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Where to Stay at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Camping at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
No established campgrounds within the National Monument

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What to Do at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Activities and More Information
During the summer season, daily guided tours are provided to the first 22 people to sign up. On the weekends, two daily tours are provided at 10:30 am and again at 1:30 pm. Special tours can be arranged by calling the visitors center and asking for either Donna Loeffler or Tricia London.

Hiking in the Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness areas are popular activities in our area. Call ahead for weather conditions and water availability.