Gila Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in southwestern New Mexico, US.

Gila Wilderness is a protected area in southwestern New Mexico, covering roughly 558,000 acres that include three forks of the river and elevations from 4850 to 10,895 feet (1480 to 3320 meters). The terrain consists of forested mountain slopes, deep canyons, high plateaus, and river valleys that carry water year-round in some sections.

In 1922 Aldo Leopold, a Forest Service supervisor of the Carson National Forest, proposed protecting the Gila River headwaters by excluding roads and denying use permits. The area was designated the world's first wilderness area on June 3, 1924. The Mimbres, a Mogollon subgroup, were active here between 1000 and 1130, and the Chiricahua Apache arrived between 1200 and 1600. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act in 1964, making Gila the first congressionally designated wilderness.

The name comes from the Gila River, whose West, Middle and East Forks rise in the wilderness. The Mimbres, a Mogollon subgroup, were active here between 1000 and 1130, leaving cliff dwellings and ruins; the Chiricahua Apache arrived between 1200 and 1600. Visitors can still see the cliff dwellings at the adjacent Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

More than 600 miles (970 kilometers) of trails run through the region and suit hikers, riders, and campers, with lower areas remaining accessible even in winter. It's advisable to carry enough drinking water and check weather conditions before longer trips, as some sections become difficult to pass after rain.

Mexican wolves were released into the Gila Wilderness in 1998, starting with eleven captive-raised animals; most died or were killed, and more were freed the following year. By 2006 four packs had established themselves here, though federal predator control has since removed or killed several animals because of conflicts with livestock owners.