Black Range - Gila National Forest - Member Hike

Hike Name:	Black Range - Gila National Forest
Country:	United States
State:	New Mexico
Nearby Town:	Winston
Rating:
Directions:	Take I-25 North from Las Cruces. Exit at NM 59. Drive approx 35 miles to Winston. Go North on NM 59 to 59.52 intersection. Stay on 59 and go West. Approx. 14 miles is Forest Service sign stating Boiler Peak and Fire Lookout. Take left there and go South approx. 6 miles to Boiler. Pass Boiler and drive three miles to Fire Lookout.
Total Hike Distance:	14.00 miles
Hike Difficulty:	Difficult
Permit Required:	No
Hike Type:	Roundtrip, Loop Hike
Hike Starts/Ends:	Boiler Peak Fire Lookout
Trails Used:	Continental Divide Trail, Crest Trail, Forest Trail 39
Backcountry Campsites:	Yes
Backcountry Water Sources:	Streams, Springs
Management:	U.S. Forest Service
Contact Information:	Gila National Forest 3005 E. Camino del Bosque Silver City, NM 88061 (505) 388-8201
Best Season:	Spring, Summer, Fall
Users:	Hikers, Dogs, Horses
Road Conditions:	Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads, Maintained Gravel or Dirt Roads
Hike Summary:	This is another protion of the Gila National Forest, which abuts the Aldo Leopold Wilderness. Part of the hike is done on the Continental Divide Trail, and about the only hikers you willl see are CDT hikers heading north. The Black Range is in a fairly remote area, so trail pressure is very low. Its seems as if every canyon bottom has a creek or a stream, so water is not a problem. This entire area was covered by mining operations around the turn of the century, and much remains to be seen. Many natural caves, some with petroglyphs, offer shelter and historical interest. Several battles between the US Cavalry and Apache tribesmen took place along the edge of the Black Range, and one is currently the subject of a large Forest Service dig to recover artifacts. Nights are cool even in the summer. Huge trees offer shade most of the day, covering the area in shadows, which gave it the name of the Black Range.