Explore Hike Bike Horseback Trail Work

Plan your adventure in the Gila!

Trails in our area travel through extreme mountains with breathtaking vistas, into deep canyons with gurgling streams, and through wonderful forests. They can also lead you across open grasslands, mountains and hills covered with pinon and juniper trees, through sandy dry arroyos.

Adventure at your own risk. Trail conditions change. Be Prepared!

“This website is a subset of the Gila Back Country Horsemen and promotes the Gila for all trail users.”

Where are you going?

Gila Wilderness

The 500,000+ acres of the Gila was designated as the world’s first wilderness area.

  • Elevations from 4,200 to 10,900 feet
  • Covers four of six life zones
  • Over 450 species of vertebrates
  • Over 300 bird species

Aldo Leopold Wilderness

The Aldo Leopold Wilderness has over 200,000 acres is in the Black Range on the east side of the Gila forest.

  • Named for one of history’s most influential conservationists, Aldo Leopold
  • This is some of the roughest, wildest portions of the Gila
  • Elevations from 6,000 feet to 10,165 feet
  • Considered New Mexico’s “wildest wilderness.”

Non-Wilderness Trails

The Gila National Forest System has over 1,900 miles of trails, of which 891 miles of trails are in non-wilderness areas and 861 miles of trails are within wilderness areas.

  • Exploring the Gila can take you on a day adventure or weeks away
  • The Gila hosts three National Recreation Trails, including 248 miles of Continental Divide National Scenic Trail

Still have questions?
Contact Gila National Forest

Silver City Ranger Station:
(575) 388-8201
Open: Monday – Friday