When we checked out the map and roads leading up to the cliff dwellings, we could see that it would NOT be a great idea to try to take our large camper up the steep, narrow, winding forest roads. The closest town, and best option for finding a camping spot was in Silver City, NM. It ended up being another town we absolutely adored! It’s a small university town with a booming arts district and a rich “wild west” history. We enjoyed shopping and wandering down the main drag downtown among thrift shops, natural food stores, galleries, and local eateries.

The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is surrounded by the Gila National Forest, which contains the nation’s first wilderness area. (In wilderness areas, motorized or mechanized vehicles are not permitted, nor motorized tools!) Because the monument isn’t as highly trafficked as some national parks, the rangers on hand were able to discuss the monument and forest in depth with the visitors. After a short hike to the dwelling ruins, a knowledgeable volunteer was present to talk about the dwellings and answer questions.

Seeing the fire blackened ceilings, original wood frames, and ancient excavated corn cobs on site made history come alive. On the trail we noticed wild grapes growing in the valley, and could imagine what a great resource that was for the Mogollon people. The ranger explained that the cliffs offered a safe place not only from weather and predators, but also from the natural cycle of forest fires. On the return hike to the visitor center, we circled around through an area that had actually been affected by fire a few years ago. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a natural fire, but the result of a careless camper.

A girl in a teal shirt reaches down to pet a seated orange cat at a wooded campsite.
Kitty friend at our campsite. He followed the kids like a puppy.

A young boy stands admiring a colorful mural of a horse rider on a yellow wall.
Admiring local murals.

A colorful mural with an orange pointing hand and the word ART adorns a blue wall in Silver City.

Colorful mosaic wall at Penny Park in Silver City displays painted handprints framing two landscape scenes.
Beautiful mosaics at Penny Park in Silver City, NM.

Colorful mosaic mural at the monument shows a winged white horse and red dragon facing each other amid handprints.

Pink wildflowers bloom in the foreground against rolling desert hills and a clear blue sky.
Apache plume growing along the road on our way to the National Monument.

A family of three sits on a rocky ledge beneath a massive sandstone cliff overhang at Gila Cliff Dwellings.
Working hard on their Jr. Ranger books.

White-washed ancient rooms with small window openings nestle into the dark rock alcove at Gila Cliff Dwellings.

Two hikers climb a rope ladder along the rocky trail beneath Gila Cliff Dwellings.

Two children rest on a rocky ledge beside ancient stone ruins at Gila Cliff Dwellings.

A red danger sign sits among pale rocks in a slot leading into a cave at Gila Cliff Dwellings.

A man peers through binoculars while a boy holds a stick near rocky cliff walls.
Strange characters on the trail.

Colorful orange, yellow, and blue lichen spreads across a weathered rock surface at Gila Cliff Dwellings.
Colorful lichen is an indicator of healthy clean air.

A small mottled bird nests in a crevice of a dark rock face at Gila Cliff Dwellings.
Tiny “bubbles” in the lava rock were filled with crystals!

A finger points at circular lichen patches on a brown rock on the forest floor.
A little girl’s finger for scale.

A lone bird soars past a bare dead tree against a clear blue sky near Gila Cliff Dwellings.
A burnt ponderosa pine.

An orange Indian paintbrush with green-tipped buds rises from a dry grassy field near Gila Cliff Dwellings.