Activities

Activities in the monument include bird watching, fishing, hiking,  interpretive programs, nature walks, stargazing, and wildlife viewing.

Activities in the wilderness include backpacking, bird watching, camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, stargazing, and wildlife viewing.

Guided Tours

Guided tours of the Cliff Dwellings are offered daily at 1:00 p.m. Please note that the tours start at the Cliff Dwellings and that it takes about one half hour to walk up from the trailhead.  Guided tours are not offered on busy holiday weekends when higher visitation to the dwellings makes guided tours impractical.  Self-guided tours are available throughout monument hours.

Other tours and programs may be offered depending upon staffing availability. Check ahead for times and other activities by calling the Gila Visitor Center at 575-536-9461.

Hiking

Hiking in the Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness areas is a popular activity. Call ahead for weather conditions and backcountry water availability.

Hot Springs

There are several popular hot springs in the area. The closest wilderness hot spring, Lightfeather, is a 20-minute walk from the Gila Visitor Center. The most popular is Jordan, a 6 or 8 mile hike from the Visitor Center, depending upon the trailhead used. Private hot springs are also located in the community of Gila Hotsprings, four miles from the Monument.