How Hard Is The Hike To The Gila Cliff Dwellings?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Experience this 1.1-mile loop trail near Pinos Altos, New Mexico.

Generally considered an easy route

, it takes an average of 34 min to complete. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.

Are the Gila Cliff Dwellings worth visiting?

Despite the time and difficulty to get there,

Gila Cliff Dwellings NM is a great park and well worth a visit

. We have previously visited the cliff dwellings at Walnut Canyon National Monument just east of Flagstaff, AZ.

Can you go into the Gila Cliff Dwellings?

Lying on the edge of the Gila wilderness, the archaeologists say that the homes of this ancient culture are likely very similar to what they were like when they were actually occupied.

Entrance into the cave dwellings itself is not allowed due to Covid

but one can get a good view of the interior.

Is Lake Roberts open?

It is

open from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Who built the Gila cliff dwellings?


The Mogollon people

built these unique cliff dwellings in a protected cave near the Gila River in the 1200s, where they lay undiscovered for hundreds of years.

What is the elevation of the Gila cliff dwellings?

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is located in the Gila Wilderness within the Gila National Forest. Within a few miles of the cliff dwellings, elevations range from around

5,700 to 7,300 feet above sea level

. In the immediate vicinity of the cliff dwellings, elevations range from 5,700 to about 6,000 feet.

How old are the Gila cliff dwellings?


Over 700 years ago

, deep within the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico, a hunter and gatherer community built structures and dwellings within the natural caves of the Cliff Dweller Canyon. While many different groups inhabited this area over thousands of years, only one built within the canyon’s natural caves.

What city is Gila Cliff Dwellings?

Nearest city

Silver City, New Mexico
Coordinates 33°13′38′′N 108°16′20′′WCoordinates: 33°13′38′′N 108°16′20′′W Area 533 acres (216 ha) Visitation 41,519 (2016) Significant dates

Is Gila National Forest worth visiting?

We have been to the Gila National Forest many times, and love birding along the Gila River. But the Cliff Dwellings should not be missed.

They give you a sense of the early days on this continent, inspiring you to imagine what life was like then, before electricity or all of the conveniences we have now.

What is New Mexico’s only national park?

New Mexico has two national parks (

Carlsbad Caverns

, White Sands), two national historical parks (Chaco Culture, Pecos), one national heritage area (Northern Rio Grande) and 11 national monuments, including four administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Can you drink alcohol on Lake Ray Roberts?

I don’t want that either. But instead of using logic to only prosecute those folks, they simply say

no alcohol consumption in public

.

Can you swim at Lake Roberts?

Swimming in Lake Roberts is

not permitted

.

Is Lake Ray Roberts safe to swim in?

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversees other area lakes, such as Lavon, Ray Roberts and Benbrook, which are all flood-control reservoirs.

The corps allows swimming in them, except in areas considered dangerous

. People are advised to wear life jackets at the lakes and are prohibited from using glass around them.

Where are Anasazi cliff dwellings?

cliff dwelling, housing of the prehistoric Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) people of the southwestern United States, built

along the sides of or under the overhangs of cliffs, primarily in the Four Corners area, where the present states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah meet

.

Where is Mesa Verde cliff dwellings?

Mesa Verde Long House is located on

Wetherill Mesa in the western portion of Mesa Verde National Park

and is the second largest dwelling behind Cliff Palace. The Mesa Verde Long House was excavated between 1959 and 1961 as part of the Wetherill Mesa Archeological Project.

Where did the cliff dwellers live?

The cliff dwellings of

Mesa Verde

are some of the most notable and best preserved in the North American Continent. Sometime during the late 1190s, after primarily living on the mesa top for 600 years, many Ancestral Pueblo people began living in pueblos they built beneath the overhanging cliffs.

When were the Gila cliff dwellings Discovered?

First Visit to the Ruins

The first recorded visit to the ruin was in

1878

. Looters completely ransacked the site within six years. The McKinley administration established the Gila River Forest Reserve in 1899.

How were cliff dwellings built?

Most cliff dwellings were built

on south-facing ledges in deep sandstone canyons

. Thanks to the southern exposure, the low-riding sun provided heat in the winter. The overhanging lip of the cliff offered cool shade from the high summer sun.

Are there cliff dwellings in Utah?

Within the boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument,

the House on Fire is one of the region’s most popular cliff dwellings

that’s right along Highway 95 between Blanding and Natural Bridges in the South Fork of Mule Canyon.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.