Gila River - West Fork - Gila Wilderness - Member Hike

Hike Name:	Gila River - West Fork - Gila Wilderness
Country:	United States
State:	New Mexico
Nearby Town:	Silver City
Rating:
Directions:	Take State Highway 15 from Silver City. Continue Driving North until the road ends. You are there. This is a steep, narrow and twisty road, and can be dangerous at night. Trailers over 20 feet must take an alternate route on Highway 61/35
Total Hike Distance:	36.00 miles
Hike Difficulty:	Difficult
Permit Required:	No
Hike Type:	One-Way, Shuttle Hike
Hike Starts:	Gila Cliff Dwellings
Hike Ends:	Gila Cliff Dwellings
Trails Used:	West Fork Trail
Backcountry Campsites:	No
Backcountry Water Sources:	None
Management:	U.S. Forest Service
Contact Information:	Gila Wilderness Ranger District Headquarters (505) 536-2250 By Mail HC 68 Box 100 Silver City, NM 880
Best Season:	Spring, Summer, Fall
Users:	Hikers, Dogs, Horses
Road Conditions:	Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads
Hike Summary:	This is a great hike from the Gila Cliff Dwellings to White Creek Flats. On this trip you will see ancient Native American cliff houses, mining relics, trout streams containing the only remaining Gila trout in the world, and a few line cabins from early ranching. The water is normally swimming-pool clear, wildlife is everywhere, and the trail is easy to follow. Watch for cairns, as these rock piles are used instead of blazes to mark the trail. Take the time to add a rock or two to the small ones. Several of the upper creeks were closed for fishing for over twenty years, and have only been reopened for two years. Fishing is excellent. Rain can cause the creek to rise extremely rapidly, and flash floods can be a concern. Parking at the trailhead can be a major problem on regular weekends, and on holiday weekends, forget it. It is a challenging hike, but worth every step, and you will see some of the most remote and pristine land in America.