Cliff Dweller Trail with access to the cliff dwellings, the Visitor Center, and Contact Station are open daily. Please check our Operating Hours and Seasons page for current hours.
Cliff Dweller Trail is a moderately strenuous one-mile round trip, and generally takes between 1 and 2 hours to complete. If you are planning on hiking up to the dwellings, we suggest wearing layers, wearing sturdy shoes, and bringing plenty of water, especially during hot weather. No other food or flavored drinks are allowed on the trail.
The operating hours will not affect Gila National Forest or Gila Wilderness trails or corral facilities. For more information about the Gila National Forest please go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/gila
The health and safety of those who visit and work in national parks continues to be paramount. Consistent with CDC recommendations, people who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear masks indoors and in crowded outdoor spaces. The CDC has offered guidance to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases while enjoying the outdoors.
Park rangers remain on duty to protect visitors and resources and uphold normal regulations. When recreating, the public is encouraged to follow local area health orders, practice Leave No Trace principles, social distance and avoid high-risk outdoor activities. In some circumstances visitors should be prepared for limited access to services.
We urge visitors to park only in designated areas, pack out everything you bring into a park, plan a visit at times other than busiest of the day, have a face mask available for immediate use and maintain social distance from other visitors, and if you encounter a crowded trail-head or overlook, seek another location to recreate.
Remember you can #RecreateResponsibly by following these easy tips:
- Know before you go. Visit NPS.gov/findapark for current park conditions and availability of restrooms and other facilities. Make a plan, follow the 10 Essentials, and if you are sick, stay home.
- Keep it close. Follow the state and county orders governing the open status of the area you’re considering visiting. The National Park Service is working closely with governors and state and local health departments as we increase access and services across the National Park System.
- Keep your distance. Recreate with the people in your household. Give others plenty of room whether you are on a trail, at a boat launch, or in a parking lot. Follow the CDC social distancing guidelines for staying six feet away from others. Be prepared to cover your nose and mouth if you’re near others.
- Know your limits. Postpone challenging hikes or trying new activities while first responders, parks, and communities continue to concentrate on responding to the pandemic.
- Keep it with you. If you brought it, take it with you. Trash pickup and restroom facilities will continue to be limited in many park areas . Follow Leave No Trace principles.
- Keep it inclusive. Be an active part of making our nation’s parks and public lands safe and welcoming for all identities and abilities.
When visiting Gila Cliff Dwellings, remember to give yourself time!
You need time to drive to the Monument. The 44-mile trip from Silver City will take at least 1-1/2 hours and up to 2 hours due to the mountainous and winding nature of the road.
You need time to walk the trail to the dwellings. Allow 1 to 2 hours to complete the trail. Please plan accordingly and check our current Operating Hours to ensure you will have time to explore and discover the dwellings.
The Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness Areas are perfect opportunities to connect with the natural world. However, you need to be prepared for wilderness conditions before you head out. Plan your trip carefully and think twice about venturing into the Wilderness if you are not an experienced hiker. Water availability is highly variable depending on time of year and weather conditions. Trails may-- or may not--be obvious to you and signs are often found, but not a guarantee. For trail information, please contact the Gila National Forest at 575-536-2250.
Cell phones do NOT work anywhere in the region. You must be prepared to be self-reliant under all conditions.
