Blue Range Wilderness
Gila
Wilderness Areas
Location: 65 miles northwest of Silver City.
Phone: 575-539-2481 »
Season: Year Round
Fee: No
Reservations: NO
Description: 29,304 acres with little evidence of human impact is crossed by Mogollon Rim and deep rugged canyons.
The Gila National Forest boasts a rich history of the Mogollon and Apache Indians, Spaniards, Mexicans, ranchers, prospectors and miners. Apache Chiefs Mangas Coloradas, Geronimo, and Victorio, Aldo Leopold: conservationist, ecologist and author of the Sand County Almanac, and renowned lion hunter Ben Lilly are but a few of the personalities from the past that have left their mark in the Gila. Place names like Raw Meat Canyon, Tepee Canyon and Grave Canyon tell the tales of the past.
Another unique beauty of the Gila National Forest is its wilderness. The Gila, Aldo Leopold, and Blue Range Wildernesses offer unparallel hiking and horseback riding. The magnificence of these mountainous regions imparts an indescribable feeling of awe and wonderment. Former Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas may have captured the feeling when he said, "Wilderness helped preserve man's capacity for wonder ... the power to feel, if not see, the miracles of life, of beauty, and of harmony around us." The Gila Wilderness was established in 1924 as the first designated wilderness in the country.
Activities:
Hiking/Backpacking
Horseback Riding
Camping
Wildlife Viewing
Services and Facilities:
Entries marked HA indicate handicapped accessible.
Notes: Limited water sources.
National Forest: View list of sites »
Nearby Public Lands: View vicinity map »
Address: Glenwood Ranger District-Gila National Forest, Box 8, Glenwood, NM 88039
Phone: 575-539-2481 »
Weather: NOAA NM Weather »
Road Info: NM State Road Website »
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