Last updated: January 23, 2024
Place
Crossing the Bridges: Water is Life
NPS/Sean Dupre'
Quick Facts
Location:
Gila Hot Springs
Significance:
Cultural Resource
Designation:
National Monument
Amenities
1 listed
Benches/Seating
All living things need water to survive. In the Southwest, where precipitation can be highly variable and rare, water is more valuable than gold.
The Gila River
Beginning in the mountains just north of the dwellings, the three forks of the Gila River converge in this valley and ultimately flow to the Colorado River.
Cliff Dweller Creek
A natural spring at the head of the canyon provides a small, but constant flow of water that has sustained this lush canyon oasis for thousands of years. This reliable water source was probably a major factor that attracted the Mogollon people to this canyon. The abundance of plants and wildlife was an added bonus to the people seeking a new home.
The Gila River
Beginning in the mountains just north of the dwellings, the three forks of the Gila River converge in this valley and ultimately flow to the Colorado River.
Cliff Dweller Creek
A natural spring at the head of the canyon provides a small, but constant flow of water that has sustained this lush canyon oasis for thousands of years. This reliable water source was probably a major factor that attracted the Mogollon people to this canyon. The abundance of plants and wildlife was an added bonus to the people seeking a new home.