Where solitude and history thrive

Tall grass to the forest – Gila National Forest

Tracy Farley and Maribeth Pecotte

Office of Communication and Gila National Forest

October 23, 2024

Image shows a wide landscape view of stony mountains covered in desert scrub brush. — Towering cliffs and a strip of trees are the signature of the Gila River where it exits the Gila Wilderness at Mogollon Box on the Silver City Ranger District. (*USDA Forest Service photo*)

Are you frazzled by the hectic pace of life? Between cell phones and office phones buzzing, virtual meetings, juggling the logistics of life and kids’ activities, do you find yourself longing to take your close family or friends away from it all to find a place of beauty, solitude and peace?

The Gila National Forest is such a place. Located at the southern end of the Rocky Mountains and the north end of the Sierra Madre Mountains, as well as the confluence of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts, the Gila National Forest in southwestern New Mexico is a unique blend of forest and desert, where you can have ponderosa pine forest with yucca, agave, and cacti growing beneath them.

Image shows a sunrise breaking through clouds over a series of rolling mountains, seen through the branches of a pine tree. — The landscape of the Gila National Forest is bathed in morning light at Emory Pass on the Black Range Ranger District. (*USDA Forest Service photo by Jim Apodaca*)

Seeking Solitude

Solitude is something that is achievable on the Gila, both within two designated wilderness areas and outside of wilderness. Silver City, where the forest headquarters is located, is about three hours east of Tucson, AZ and three hours west of El Paso, TX. Most of this 3.3-million-acre landscape is undeveloped, where people can get away and experience what it's like to be in remote settings, truly on their own, responsible for their own safety, food and water.

Image shows a group of hikers hiking into the distance along a trail marked by a wooden sign at the forefront of the image. — A group of backpackers enters the vast landscape of the Gila Wilderness on the Wilderness Ranger District. (*Photo courtesy of Heart of the Gila*)

Experiencing solitude and challenge in these remote, tranquil forest settings, gives us an idea of what life was like before there were cars, roads, and large cities dominating our world, and builds self-reliance, and creates treasured experiences.

Image shows Native American pictographs on a bare stone. — Apache Creek Rock Art on the Reserve Ranger District. (*USDA Forest Service photo*)

Remnants of the Past

The dry climate has preserved the past well, providing us glimpses of how the land was used before European settlement. The Gila has an extremely rich Native American history going back thousands of years. You may find artifacts left behind hundreds or thousands of years ago. Remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints.

Image shows a metal elevated walkway along a rock face with trees in the background. — Catwalk National Recreation Trail allows visitors of all abilities to experience the Whitewater Creek slot canyon on the Glenwood Ranger District. (*USDA Forest Service photo*)

The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is a must-see destination surrounded by the Gila Wilderness, as well as the Catwalk National Recreation Trail. Its history traces back to the 1890’s gold and silver mining era. This wheelchair accessible trail is on an elevated metal catwalk that's bolted into the canyon walls above rushing Whitewater Creek, running through a narrow chasm. But remember, it is important to leave artifacts where you find them so that other people in the future can continue to appreciate, and experience that same sense of discovery.

Image shows a nightsky view of a comet over a picnic overhang. — Comet NEOWISE from Aldo Leopold Vista by Deborah Calkins.

Looking Up

One other item to add to your fun “to-do” list while visiting is to check out the Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary. It was the first international dark sky sanctuary in the National Forest System. It's remotely located like much of the Gila and at night, the views of the Milky Way and other stars are spectacular. If you enjoy nighttime photography and stargazing, this is the place to bring your tribe.

Telescopes are welcome. So others can also enjoy the dark sky experience, bright flashlights and lanterns are frowned upon. Get there early to set up your camp and then enjoy the majestic natural night lights. Before you leave town en route to Cosmic Campground, be sure to grab a book or download an app to help identify the constellations. Learning can be part of the fun.

After an extended weekend or a week on the Gila, your lingering smile will show others the value of truly getting away. The memories with your family and friends – priceless.