Last updated: January 23, 2024
Place
In The Canyon: Nature's Market
NPS/Sean Dupre'
Quick Facts
Location:
Gila Hot Springs
Significance:
Cliff Dwellings
Designation:
National Monument
Amenities
1 listed
Benches/Seating
The steep walls of the canyon shelter a wide variety of plants and wildlife. In one mile you will travel from a cool and lush riparian area (look for wildflowers, javelina, and wild turkey), to sunny, rocky slopes (note the prickly pear cacti, juniper trees, and canyon wrens). Your return descends through a fire burned hillside with regenerating grasses, flowers, and shrubs. Watch for birds, lizards, and snakes. The Mogollon people relied on nature’s bounty to provide food, clothing, fuel, and building materials.
Yucca: The Spiky Wonder
Would you know what to do with such an unusual looking plant? For the Mogollon people, the yucca had many uses. The leaves were frayed at the ends to become paintbrushes, fibers from the leaves became weaving twine, mats, and sandals. Young stalks and fruits were good for eating. The roots were used for soap while the spiny leaf tips made sharp needles for sewing.
Yucca: The Spiky Wonder
Would you know what to do with such an unusual looking plant? For the Mogollon people, the yucca had many uses. The leaves were frayed at the ends to become paintbrushes, fibers from the leaves became weaving twine, mats, and sandals. Young stalks and fruits were good for eating. The roots were used for soap while the spiny leaf tips made sharp needles for sewing.