Gila Wilderness
Gila Wilderness is a 559,310-acre wilderness area in Catron County, New Mexico. It rises from about 4,801 to 10,886 ft. The nearest town is Gila Hot Springs, 0.4 miles away in a straight line.
Gila Wilderness map
Gila Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Agency fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
County and local burn bans may also apply on private, state, or county land nearby. On federal land, follow the land manager's order; off it, follow the strictest county or local rule that applies. When both touch your trip, obey both.
Common questions
- The maximum group size at Gila Wilderness is 25.
- Gila Hot Springs, NM is the nearest town, 0.4 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Gila Wilderness is about 10,886 ft, and its lowest about 4,801 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Whitewater Baldy, about 10,886 ft.
Who manages Gila Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 559,310 | Not on record | 25 | Not on record | Wilderness Ranger District, 575-536-2250 |
Getting to Gila Wilderness
- Gila Hot Springs, NM is the nearest town, 0.4 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Gila Wilderness
- Flying V - Trail#706 (inside the boundary, 7,767 ft), at 33.4091, -108.3961
- Alum Camp (0.03 mi outside the boundary, 6,446 ft), at 33.1585, -108.1983
- 74 Mountain-Trail#153 (0.05 mi outside the boundary, 5,322 ft), at 33.1305, -108.6086
- Loco Mtn-Trail#143 (0.05 mi outside the boundary, 8,105 ft), at 33.4117, -108.4574
- West Fork Trailhead-Trail#151 (0.06 mi outside the boundary, 5,701 ft), at 33.2298, -108.2655
- Gila River (0.1 mi outside the boundary, 5,542 ft), at 33.1798, -108.2059
- Brannon Park (0.15 mi outside the boundary, 7,383 ft), at 33.1010, -108.0152
- Trails End (0.16 mi outside the boundary, 6,313 ft), at 33.2699, -108.1473
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Gila Wilderness
- Whitewater Baldy summit
- Willow Mountain summit
- Mogollon Baldy Peak summit
- Adobe Canyon canyon
- Alum Canyon canyon
- Adobe Spring spring
- Alum Spring spring
- Gila Flat Tank lake
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-30. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.
Fishing and water
Fishing inside the boundary: Gilita Creek fishing , Sapillo Creek (nr Lake Roberts) fishing , Snow Lake fishing , with stocking records and species on fishypedia.com.
- Black Canyon fishing (right at the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Lake Roberts fishing (0.6 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
Public lands next to Gila Wilderness
- National forestGila Wilderness lies inside Gila National Forest.
- National Park Service unitGila Wilderness borders Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.
- Wilderness areaAldo Leopold Wilderness is 0.7 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in New Mexico
- wilderness.net (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- www2.census.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- apps.fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
The sentences on this page are generated by software from the sourced records above, not written by hand. How this content is made.