Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

GILA CLIFF DWELLINGS NATIONAL MONUMENT

Established on November 16, 1907 as one of the first monuments to be created in the country, the Gila Cliff Dwellings near Silver City in southwest New Mexico provide a chance to get up-close and explore the way the ancestors of the Puebloan people lived over 700 years ago. The Gila area was once home to the Mogollon / Mimbres culture, and also the traditional homeland of the Eastern Bands of Chiricahua Apache and remains important to their oral traditions, history and cultural identity.

The monument is nestled within the Gila Wilderness Area, on the headwaters of the Gila River. The Gila Wilderness Area is our nation’s first wilderness area and it covers over 870 square miles of backpacking, hiking, birding and wildlife viewing adventures, in addition to several natural hot springs. The Gila Cliff Dwellings feature five natural caves that you can walk through, offering spectacular views of the Gila National Forest. In fact, this is one of the few places where you can actually stand inside a cliff dwelling and see where the ancient peoples crafted pottery and raised their children. The hike up to the caves and cliff dwellings takes you through canyons, along the riverside, and through the forest.

For more information call (575) 536-9461 or visit www.NPS.gov/gicl.

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