Spanning 2.7 million acres across southwestern New Mexico, Gila National Forest stands as the sixth largest national forest in the continental United States and holds a distinction no other American wilderness can claim: it’s home to the nation’s first designated wilderness area. The Gila Wilderness, established in 1924 through the advocacy of conservationist Aldo Leopold, set the precedent for wilderness protection across the country.
The forest’s rugged terrain encompasses the Mogollon Mountains, deep canyons carved by the Gila River, and ancient cliff dwellings that speak to centuries of human history. Beyond the Gila Wilderness, visitors can explore the Aldo Leopold Wilderness and Blue Range Wildernessāthree protected areas offering solitude increasingly rare in the modern West.
Nine campgrounds provide base camps for exploration, including Black Canyon Campground, Pinon and Juniper Campgrounds at Quemado Lake, and group facilities at Little Walnut and Gomez Peak. The forest maintains 139 developed recreation sites total, giving campers plenty of options for both developed and primitive experiences.
Silver City serves as the primary gateway, offering supplies and lodging before you head into the backcountry. Spring and fall deliver ideal conditionsāsummer brings afternoon monsoons to higher elevations, while winter snow can close forest roads.
Established in 1905, Gila National Forest has protected this landscape for over a century. The forest roads wind through ponderosa pine and mixed conifer zones, connecting remote trailheads where you can walk the same ridgelines Aldo Leopold fought to preserve.
Explore Nearby
- Continental Divide National Scenic Trail ā Public Land in New Mexico
- Continental Divide Wilderness Study Area ā Public Land in New Mexico
- Cosmic Campground Dark Sky Park ā Dark Sky Site in Colorado
- City of Rocks State Park ā State Park in New Mexico
- Coronado Trail Scenic Byway ā Scenic Byway in Arizona
