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.
The Forest Service designated this area as the first protected wilderness in the United States in 1924, after forester and conservationist Aldo Leopold proposed preserving the headwaters region. Before that, indigenous groups lived here for centuries, including the Mogollon culture, who built settlements and cliff dwellings around 1000, before Apache groups later inhabited the land.
The region takes its name from the river that winds through canyons and valleys, shaping the land for centuries. Today, visitors walk the same trails once used by Apache groups, while rangers point out traces of ancient settlements and share stories of the people who lived here long ago.
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.
Since the late 1980s, the area has served as a refuge for a reintroduction program of the Mexican wolf, an endangered subspecies once native here. Occasionally, hikers encounter tracks of these animals or hear their howls in the mountains at night, a rare experience in the United States.
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