Iron Lake - Gila Wilderness - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Iron Lake - Gila Wilderness |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | New Mexico |
| Nearby Town: | Reserve |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | Take Forest Road 26 from Reserve heading east. Drive approx. 45 miles to the intersection of 26 and Forest Road 141. Follow FR 141 south approx. 4 miles to Gilita Campground. |
| Total Hike Distance: | 12.00 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Easy to Moderate |
| Permit Required: | No |
| Hike Type: | In & Out, Backtrack Hike |
| Hike Starts/Ends: | Gilita Campground |
| Trails Used: | Iron Creek Trail |
| Backcountry Campsites: | Yes |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | Streams, Lakes, Springs, Snow |
| Management: | U.S. Forest Service |
| Contact Information: | Gila National Forest 3005 E. Camino del Bosque Silver City, NM 88061 (505) 388-8201 http://www2.srs.fs.fed.us/r3/gila/ |
| Best Season: | Summer, Fall |
| Users: | Hikers, Dogs, Horses |
| Road Conditions: | Secondary Paved Roads, Maintained Gravel or Dirt Roads, Unmaintained Gravel or Dirt Roads, Four Wheel Drive Recommended |
| Hike Summary: | This is a beautiful hike in the Gila Wilderness, with tons of water and decent fishing. It is in a remote area of New Mexico, and requires a long drive on dirt roads to get there. All theis difficulty results in a trip with almost no trail pressure and complete solitude. We did not see one person on the trail in two days. Thr trip starts at the Gilita Campground. You might be able to start from Willow Creek Campground, but the road is only clear of snow for about a 2 months in the middle of the summer, and the Gila is normally closed from fire danger during that time. It is about 2 miles from Gilita to Willow, and when you reach Willow Creek Campground, the trail heads south for about a mile. The trail is well marked, and after about another mile, the trail heads east and starts uphill. It is about 3 miles from the easterly break to Iron Creek, and then you are there. Iron Lake is just east of the trail, and is beautiful. THERE IS NO FISHING IN IRON LAKE DUE TO ENDANGERED TROUT SPECIES THERE. Camping sites are plentiful, and it is a great place to spend a couple of days off of the beaten track. Numerous trails leave from Iron Creek, and from there you can get to almost any point in the Gila Wilderness. |
One reply on “Iron Lake - Gila Wilderness - Member Hike”
Actually, it was only a mile between Gilita and Willow Creek campgrounds, and the road up from Mogollon is only closed for about 5 months every year, not 10. It’s all academic now that both gampgrounds were buried under massive landslides earler this year, after forest fire burned through the area.
Last time I hiked by Iron Lake it was bone dry; so much for the endangered trout.