Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
Protected park · NM, USA
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument in NM, USA. Operated by National Park Service.
Usual hours
- Mon–Sun 9:00–16:00
About
Entrance / day-use fee applies.
This park's official page lists: Store / concessions.
This park's official page lists: Visitor center.
At the park
- Caves & caverns
- Stargazing
- Wildlife & bird watching
- Backpacking
- Hot springs
Shows and experiences
- Ranger & guided programs
Events
- Dwellings Tour
- Secrets of the Skull
- Life in the Gila
- Why Save These Cliffs?
- Stars Over The Gila
- Solar Viewing at the Visitor Center
- Painting the Past
Before you go
- Limits
- No pets are allowed on the trail to the Cliff Dwellings
- Limits
- This section of Highway 15 is NOT RECOMMENDED for RVs over 25 feet or trailers over 20 feet
- Park alert: Secure trash and food
- Pack it in, pack it out! There are no trash services in or around the monument. All food & trash must be secured inside a vehicle. Ravens routinely open zipped bags & tear into trash bags left outside or in the bed of a truck.
- Park alert: No Pets are allowed on the Cliff Dwelling Trail
- Pets are not allowed onto the Gila Cliff Dwelling Trail. Kennels are available at the Trailhead on a First Come First Serve basis and are available to those that are going on the Cliff Dwelling Trail not the Wilderness trails.
- Park alert: Water Availability
- There is NO water at the scorpion campgrounds and the trailhead for the cliff dwellings. Water is available at the Visitor Center, Woody's corral and TJ's corral.
- Getting there
- 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.
- Weather & when to go
- Weather is extremely variable. Summers are usually around 90° F. but approach 100° F. Winters have occasional snow or temperatures near 0° F. Thunderstorms are common in the summer and early fall, usually in the afternoon. https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=33.2296&lon=-108.2639#.YUX0_SuSmUk
- Visitor center
- Exploring a Piece of Mogollon Cultural History
- Visitor center
- Gila Visitor Center — Gila Visitor Center — Plan extra time to get to the park. Narrow, mountainous, and winding roads require slower speeds and cautious driving. NM Hwy 15 from Silver City is only for passenger vehicles and motorcycles. Typical driving time is 1.5-2 hours. For RVs and trucks with trailers: take NM Hwy 152 from Santa Clara to NM Hwy 35. NM Hwy 35 connects with Hwy 15 to the park. Typical driving time is 2-2.5 hours.
Facilities on the park map
7 bench, 2 visitor information.
History
- Opened
- 1907
- Heritage status
- Listed heritage / protected status
- Park opened