From Las Cruces, we headed north toward Gila Wilderness. I recommend taking NM Highway 35 through the Mimbres Valley since it is less winding and more level than NM Highway 15. On the drive, a family of javelina (similar to wild boar) crossed the road in front of our vehicle near the town of Mimbres.
Gila Cliff Dwellings
2023 Price: No entrance fee!
Once you enter the national monument, the road to the trailhead is across from the red national monument sign, before the visitor center. There are plenty of parking spaces and restrooms at the trailhead.
A ranger is available near the trailhead if you have any questions. Keep in mind – they told us that due to the delicate nature of the dwellings we could only bring water (no sugary drinks or food).
History
In the late 1200s, people of the Mogollon culture (Southern Ancestral Pueblo) made this area home. Pronounced “Moe-go-yone,” the name comes from the Mogollon Mountains which were named after a Spanish governor. Some local dialects pronounce it as “Mu-gee-yon” or “Mu-gee-own.”
Starting around 1275, they built rooms in the caves above Cliff Dweller Canyon and lived there for one or two generations. By the early 1300s, Mogollon families had moved on. It is crazy to think of all the time and effort they must have put into building the structures only to leave not long after.
President Theodore Roosevelt established the national monument in 1907. It is the only national monument with Mogollon ruins.
The Trail
The 1-mile loop trail starts by crossing the long bridge over the West Fork of the Gila River. Smaller footbridges crisscross a stream before the path heads up to the cliffs.
I wouldn’t call it a difficult trail, but you do have to hike up approximately 180 feet from the canyon. It climbs several sets of stone steps on switchbacks. According to a sign at the trailhead, there are 288 steps to the top and an additional 80 steps inside the dwellings.
About a third of the way up the stairs, you get your first clear glimpse at the caves in the distance.
Gila Cliff Dwellings
The first major dwellings you pass (in Cave 2) are viewable from the main path. Do not touch the walls or lean on structures anywhere on the monument.
The second, larger set of dwellings is where the magic lies. Here you can enter Caves 3, 4 and 5 and truly walk in the footsteps of the past. Soot on the ceiling shows where fires burned.
You are allowed to touch and climb the ladders in this area. Smaller ladders allow you to peer into certain rooms.
Watch your step on the narrow walkway between Caves 4 and 5.
This reminded me a lot of Ancestral Puebloan dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park. However, it was nice to explore these dwellings at our own pace rather than having to stick with a guided tour.
When you are done, you can climb the large ladder down to the trail or return via the staircase you entered on.
For details on specific caves and rooms, check out the photo gallery on the National Park Service page.
After the dwellings, the loop winds along the cliffside. Several switchbacks bring you back down to ground level along the river. In mid-January we had snow and some ice in the shaded regions.
Nearby Attractions
If you have more time and are looking for other activities, there are several hot springs and hiking trails in the surrounding wilderness. Sometimes, the nearby TJ Ruin (a Mimbres site) is also open to the public. You can ask at the Gila Cliff Dwellings visitor center.
Truth or Consequences?
That night, I booked us a room in the city of Truth or Consequences. I couldn’t miss an opportunity to stay there!
From Gila Cliff Dwellings to Truth or Consequences, we took NM Highway 15 which runs through miles and miles of Gila National Forest. It was gorgeous scenery but the narrow highway winds along the mountains. There were so many tight corners and turns along the cliffside – from the time I started counting them, there were 20 sharp hairpin turns.
I was lucky enough to go along on this trip. A great read to take me back to this beautiful place.