Gila National Forest — Attraction in Silver City

A Breathtaking Escape into Nature and History

Gila National Forest is an absolute treasure for anyone who loves nature, history, and solitude. I originally came here to visit the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, but quickly discovered that the entire forest offers so much more than I expected.

The drive to the cliff dwellings is a highlight in itself. Winding through the mountains, it offers spectacular scenic views at every turn. There are plenty of pull-offs along the way where you can stop, stretch, and soak in the dramatic landscapes—perfect for photography or simply enjoying the moment. The journey through this rugged terrain gives you a real sense of how remote and wild this part of New Mexico still is.

Beyond the monument, Gila National Forest is filled with an abundance of hiking trails that cater to all skill levels. Whether you’re looking for a short nature walk among tall pines or a challenging backcountry trek stretching 14 miles or more, there’s something here for everyone. I was especially impressed by the peacefulness of the forest—it’s not crowded, and you really feel immersed in the natural beauty around you.

The mix of forested canyons, high desert plateaus, and bubbling hot springs makes this area incredibly unique. Wildlife is abundant, the air is crisp and clean, and there's a sense of timelessness that makes you want to stay longer and keep exploring.

If you're anywhere near New Mexico—or even if you’re planning a dedicated road trip—I can’t recommend Gila National Forest enough. It’s a destination that combines stunning scenery, rich cultural history, and the kind of quiet solitude that’s getting harder to find. I truly loved my time here and hope to return to...

My wife and I camped here in early October for almost a week in our mini renovated school bus. Temperatures fluctuated greatly at elevation but the views were worth it. It took us a long and slow 2 hours to get from Silver City to the Gila visitors center and our brakes on our 13,000lb Ford E-450 School Bus were smoking pretty bad due to the steep incline and declines. It had previously rained for several days in a row thus resulting in a high river level and high current flow. We tried to go up the east side and the road was impassable with anything less than a raised 4x4. We went all the way around to enter through the west side only to run into another part of the road with water flowing over it. This was fortunately manageable for most vehicles to drive through the water. There were loads of pull offs along the side of the road on the way in which was comforting if we needed to stop. The road was also paved for the full length which was really nice. There were no trash cans at the visit center as they ask you to take your trash with you as you leave. We had an excellent experience here and would happily do it...

Love wild New Mexico. Who knew, Lions elk deer bears and just about every other kind of animal you never connected with the desert states... Running rivers and streams are hard to get to some times but worth the extra effort as they are less used for that reason. Lots of nice dirt roads for the ATV or RZR, and if you want to hike in, you can get away from all the ATV traffic on tons of established and maintained trails. Hunting elk and deer is a major event here and largely responsible for trail conditions. That said, you might want to avoid long back country hikes during hunting season. With hundreds of thousands of square miles of wilderness not spoiled by over population... Yet. The only negative I have is the heavy drinking driving population... Be aware, and cautious when driving, especially after dark... Between dodging stay deer, elk, javalina, etc... You need to watch out for people driving like idiots, and pedestrians in black clothing wandering out into the road. Driving aggressively, especially impaired drivers, tends to be the norm here rather than...