May Gila Trails Update

In this Newsletter:

- Current Conditions

- Day Adventures

- Backcountry Adventures

- Trails Projects

Photo Credits Pat Gioannini

Water Updates

The Forks of the Gila River are now passable and the mesa tops are drying up in some areas.

Check out the

water updates

and always have a backup when planning your adventure in the Gila

Also, help others by

submitting a water report

New Mural at Overlook on Copperas

Photo Credit: Youth Mural Program

The Youth Mural Program in Silver City

recently installed a new mural at the Anderson Overlook on Copperas Pass.

The overlook offers views of the Gila Wilderness and now a beautiful mural.

Thanks to New Mexico's amazing

Outdoor Equity Fund and the US Forest Service

for funding the project and helping to get youth outside.

Many were involved in making the tiles including students from Cobre HS, San Lorenzo, Aldo Leopold Charter School, and more. YCC mural crew as well as other high school students installed the tiles.

Stop by on your drive up Highway 15

Gila Endurance Race

October 12, 2024

50 mile, 100 mile and half marathon distances

Celebrating the Gila Centennial

Trail races on Continental Divide and Gila National Forest trails starting just outside of Silver City, New Mexico. 

Gila Centennial Week Events

A wide variety of events happening in the last week of May and early June.

We hope to see you at Gough Park on June 1st.

Adventure at your own risk.

Trail conditions change.

Recreate Responsibly

Tadpole Ridge from Sheep Corral, Trail 232

photo credits: Jackie Blurton 

Trail # 232 across Tadpole Ridge features dynamic views of the Gila’s distant mountain ranges on the broad horizons to the north. 

It’s a 10.8-mile roundtrip, but a turnaround can be done at any point. 

Railroad, Gallinas and the Crest Trail

Trail Improvements in the Black Range off of Highway 152:

Gallinas Trail # 129, Railroad Trail #128, Crest Trail #79 from Mcknight Road to Railroad Trail.

All thanks to the FS trail crew from Montana who continues to help improve the Gila each year. Please come back again!

Now is a good time to explore these areas before logs start falling again and locust regrows.

But do take precautions during windy days since some of these trails are still in the post-burn area.

Note that Highway 152 is closed until May 19th for chip sealing

Photo credits: Gerry Engel

Backcountry Adventures

Photo Credit Nigel Holman

This 24.6-mile lollipop route starts at Aeroplane Mesa Trailhead on the northern part of the Gila Wilderness.

Expansive views of the Gila Wilderness and Lilley Mountain from the first saddle.

It travels through open grassy mesas to the Middle Fork and back up to ponderosa forests.

Thanks to recent trail work by Gila BCH, the route has been logged.

This area passes through grass-covered wide canyons. Beautiful to view but sometimes the trail can be obscured by the grass. It may take extra effort to stay on the trail. Look out for trail markers.

Trail in the Jerky Mountains

Trail #164 in the Jerky Mountains was recently improved by Gila BCH, making it once again passable.

Trail work included removing over 300 logs, improving the tread, brushing, and other trail improvements.

This trail offers great views of Mogollon Baldy and to the north from this trail as it travels through high ponderosa forests. A lake/marsh is also located high on the ridge top.

The trail work done in early May ties in with last year's work on the western side of the Jerky Mtns.

This trail connects Turkey Feather Pass with Quinten Spring and is a part of the Forest Service Gila Centennial Trail.

Photo Credit: Julia Plews

In early July

we will share our trail project schedule for

August - October.

Enjoy Gila Trails!

Photo Credit: Nigel Holman