The World's First Designated Wilderness Is Here In New Mexico And It’s An Unforgettable Adventure
By Jessica Moore|Published November 23, 2022
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Jessica Moore
Author
Jessica is a storm chaser, photographer, meteorologist, and writer from Colorado. As a native of this beautiful state, she grew up with a love of the outdoors, and today enjoys hiking, rafting, skiing, and photographing landscapes and storms. She is also a mom to a beautiful little girl and loves life as an entrepreneur which allows her to be fully present for her daughter. She has been a writer for OnlyInYourState for just over 1 year and loves the opportunity to combine her loves of writing and travel to bring you the most exciting content for travel destinations across the country.
While New Mexico is the fifth-largest state in America, it is also one of the lesser-populated. Travelers who have ventured across the Land of Enchantment can attest to its vast remoteness. Therein lies the appeal for many adventurers who seek to get away from the crowds and connect with nature. If remote exploration is on your agenda, look no further than the vast and beautiful Gila Wilderness.
At a massive 559,688 acres in size, Gila Wilderness is New Mexico’s largest wilderness and became the world’s first designated wilderness on June 3, 1924. No motorized vehicles of any kind are allowed in the park, but an expansive network of trails is found throughout the wilderness. This is about as authentic of a wilderness experience as one can get.
A lesser-known fact is that Gila Wilderness is home to one of the largest ponderosa pine forests in the world. Wilderness exhibitions through these areas are a great way for the more adventurous explorers to get a true taste of the remote and peaceful wild of southwest New Mexico.
One of the most fascinating and unexpected attractions within the wilderness is Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Situated on the Gila River’s headwaters near the Gila Visitor Center, this is one of the more easily accessed areas of the wilderness for visitors who may not have the time or resources for a full day (or longer) of remote adventuring.
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument preserves a handful of prominent ruin sites of the Mogollon people who inhabited the area from the mid-1200s to roughly the 14th century. These cliff dwellings can be accessed via a one-mile looping trail that crosses over a few footbridges. The full trail typically takes about an hour to complete.
There are three man-made lakes within Gila Wilderness and plenty of streams and creeks that make amazing locations for hiking, fishing, bird watching, and more. Do note that a fishing permit is required for most waters within Gila Wilderness.
If you decide to camp within Gila Wilderness, prepare to be amazed by the darkness of the night skies and the brightness of the Milky Way. You will find a variety of options when it comes to campsites; from primitive to developed, from lakeside to forested, there are endless camping options from which you can gaze up at the beautiful night sky.
The Middle Fork Gila River Trail is one of the countless hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty within the wilderness. It is one of two trails – the other being Little Bear Canyon Trail – that lead to Jordan Hot Springs for a rejuvenating soak in nature.
One thing is for certain, opportunities for adventure and exploration within Gila Wilderness are endless. If you’ve experienced the beauty of this incredible area, we’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments or tag a friend you’d love to explore with!
And if you’re looking for more wilderness adventures in New Mexico, check out these nine untamed places that are well worth exploring.
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