Wilderness Ranger District

Welcome to the Wilderness Ranger District. The district is located in the heart of the Gila National Forest and covers an area of 686,171 acres. The majority of the district is designated as wilderness and comprises the Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness areas. The wilderness features steep mountains, rough deep canyons, flat mesas, large river channels and flood plains. Higher elevations consist of a mixture of pine spruce and other mixed conifers, while lower elevation vegetation is semi-desert shrub and grassland. There are large areas with pinyon-juniper-oak woodlands and others with ponderosa pine. No permits are needed to hike or camp in either wilderness area. 

Current Conditions

For current conditions call (575) 536-2250.

Office Information

District Ranger: Henry Provencio

Address: HC 68 Box 50, Mimbres, New Mexico, 88049

Phone: Phone (575) 536-2250

             Fax    (575) 536-2242

Office hours

Directions: Travel US Hwy 180 east from Silver City to the junction with NM Hwy 152. Take Hwy 152 approximately 14 miles to the junction of NM Hwy 35. Continue 11 miles north on NM Hwy 35 to Wilderness Ranger Station. 

Area Description

The Wilderness Ranger District area description includes an overview of the main towns where the Ranger District offices are located, as well as information on climate, cultural and recreation offerings, medical, schools, housing and transportation.

Attractions

The ranger district offers a number of recreation attractions for the visitor, including wilderness areas, Lake Roberts and the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. The Copperas Vista and Clinton P. Anderson Overlook offer beautiful views into river canyons and wild ranges. They overlook the eastern ramparts of the Gila Wilderness and honor one of the pioneers of the Wilderness Act.