Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
For thousands of years, groups of nomads used the caves above Cliff Dweller Creek as temporary shelter. In the late 1200s, people of the agricultural Mogollon (Southern Ancestral Pueblo) culture made it a home. They built rooms, crafted pottery and raised children in the cliff dwellings for one or two generations. By approximately 1300, the Mogollon had moved on, leaving the walls behind.
Passenger vehicles can drive north of Silver City, New Mexico to the monument on NM Hwy 15. The 46 mile trip can take up to two hours due to the narrow and mountainous curving nature of the road. RVs and vehicles pulling trailers should NOT use NM Hwy 15. From Silver City, take US Highway 180 to Santa Clara. Turn left onto NM Hwy 152 and drive to San Lorenzo. At San Lorenzo, turn left onto NM Hwy 35 and follow it to its termination at NM Hwy 15. Turn right on NM Hwy 15 and follow signs to the park.
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horse Camping (see also camping)
- Horseback Riding
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Archeology
- Cliff Dwellings
- Explorers and Expeditions
- Farming and Agriculture
- Military
- Cavalry
- Wars and Conflicts
- Tribal Conflicts
- Indian and Frontier Wars
- Westward Expansion
- Homesteading
- Animals
- Birds
- Cats (wild)
- Elk
- Fish
- Wolves
- Caves, Caverns and Karst
- Canyons and Canyonlands
- Climate Change
- Fire
- Foothills, Plains and Valleys
- Plateaus and Mesas
- Forests and Woodlands
- Coniferous Forests
- Geology
- Geothermal
- Hot Springs
- Mountains
- Natural Sounds
- Night Sky
- Astronomy
- River and Riparian
- Scenic Views
- Unique Species
- Rare
- Endangered
- Volcanoes
- Watersheds
- Headwaters
- Wilderness
Looking Back in Time
Tularosa Phase Mogollon people made these caves their home in the late 1200's.
Winter Solstice Sunrise at Gila Cliff Dwellings
Visitors enjoy panoramic views of the canyon and dwellings at Gila Cliff Dwellings.
A Place to Call Home
Most of the dwellings walls are original. Some even preserve a builder's fingerprints that are over 700 years old.
Mogollon Cliff Dwelling with T Door
The T-shaped door suggests trade between Mogollon and Ancestral Puebloan.
View of the Gila River Valley near Gila Cliff Dwellings NM
The Oldest Wilderness Area in the United States Awaits.
Gila National Forest Approach to Gila National Monument in Winter
Winter wonderland along the Gila River
Eroded Cliffs Along the Gila River
As the first designated Wilderness Area, the Gila offers endless opportunites peaceful reflection.