Most people outside of New Mexico have never heard of the Gila Wilderness. But this sprawling area was actually the first wilderness area to be established in the U.S. and the term “wilderness” is not used lightly. Forget driving. Neither roads nor buildings are permitted here. If you want to explore this isolated portion of southwestern Land of Enchantment, you’ll need to do so by foot or on horseback. Here is one of the most remote places to visit in New Mexico:

The Gila Wilderness spans 559,040 acres. It encompasses rivers, creeks, mesas, canyons, mountains, and 13th century cliff dwellings.
Wikimedia Commons/US Forest Service
Flickr/KrisNM
The headwaters of the Gila River, the last wild river in New Mexico, begin in the Mogollon Range.
Flickr/Douglas LeMoine
The highest summit is Whitewater Baldy, which stands at well over 10,000 feet high.
Scaling the peak of Whitewater Baldy involves a 24-mile round trip hike – several days of high country hiking. Here’s the view from the top.
Flickr/Gila National Forest
However, you don’t have to climb mountains to enjoy the Gila Wilderness. There are several easier trails. Many involve river crossings, so bring water shoes or at least a change of shoes.
Flickr/Stanley Zimny
One of the most popular trails is the Gila West Fork Trail.
Flickr/Douglas LeMoine
When talking about the Gila Wilderness, "popular" means that you might encounter a few stray humans! This day hike is six miles round trip, and the trailhead starts in the parking lot of the Gila Cliff Dwellings.
Follow the West Fork Gila River as it passes through a gorge and gaze up at the towering rock face.
Flickr/Douglas LeMoine
Navigating this rugged yet stunning terrain makes you feel like you’re the only person left on earth.

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Or like you’ve traveled back in time. After all, the Gila Wilderness hasn’t changed much in the last century.
Wikimedia Commons/US Forest Service, W. H. Shaffer
This image is from 1922.
The easiest hike here admittedly offers less of an escape from civilization.
Flickr/Denny Armstrong
The Catwalk Trail is a raised trail that follows the route of an old water pipe, through Whitewater Canyon, across a suspension bridge, and past a small waterfall. More info here.
The Gila Wilderness contains several natural (read primitive) hot springs.
Flickr/Douglas LeMoine
Some, such as Turkey Creek hot springs are truly remote. You need a 4WD vehicle and must then hike eight miles, round trip, to reach them. Others, like the Middle Fork/Lightfeather hot springs are relatively easy to access. This one mile, round trip, hike is a mere 20 minutes from the visitor center at the Gila Cliff Dwellings (it does involve river crossings).
The Gila Cliff Dwellings are also inside the wilderness area.
Flickr/Chris Dodson
They’re remarkably well preserved and they’re accessible by car. More info here.
When visiting this area, use the town of Glenwood for a base.
Tripadvisor/medalguy
With a population of only 143 people, it feels pretty isolated, but you do have the convenience of restaurants. (Eat at the Alma Store and Grill or the Golden Girls Café.) There are also motels, lodges, and several campgrounds.
That'll give you plenty of time to discover all that the Gila Wilderness has to offer.
Flickr/dedhed1950
And, you can fall asleep to sunsets like this one.
Wikimedia Commons/Gila National Forest

Before you head out into the Gila Wilderness, you definitely need to be prepared, especially because you’re unlikely to have cell service. Double check that you have enough supplies, including water. This area is also prone to flash floods. You can learn more about the conditions at Gila, and everything else you need to know about visiting, by visiting the official Gila Forest Service webpage.

Remember, the Gila Wilderness is intended to be pristine and appear untouched by humans, so leave no trace.

Have you explored this breathtaking part of New Mexico? Here are more beautiful natural areas in New  Mexico you can visit.

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More to Explore

Most Remote Places To Visit In New Mexico

Leah | November 06, 2020

What are the best outdoor adventures in New Mexico?

There are many places where you can have an outdoor adventure in New Mexico. Let out your inner explorer in places like City Of Rocks State Park. Located near Deming, you'll be able to weave through the rock towers - some that are 40 feet high - and discover beauty in ways you didn't know you could. El Malpais National Monument is another great spot for an adventure. This area is covered in solidified lava flows. Its unique landscape is stunning, but make sure you watch where you step - there are many deep cracks in the ground.  For the opposite, with towering canyons, visit the Cimarron Canyon State Park near Eagle Nest, New Mexico.

What underrated places in New Mexico should I visit?

It's hard to decide where to go when there are so many things to do in New Mexico. While there are some obvious answers - famous places like Santa Fe, the Rio Grande Gorge, the Four Corner Monuments, and so on - there are also underrated spots barely anyone knows about. Sugarite Canyon State Park is a lesser-known yet worthy spot to visit in New Mexico. This area used to be a mining camp in the early 1900s, and now you can explore its history as well as the beautiful mountains. Another hidden gem of a park is Bottomless Lakes State Park. The sinkhole lakes located there are great for swimming or simply enjoying the view of from the shore.

Where can I go in New Mexico that only the locals know about?

Only locals know the best places off the beaten path in New Mexico that are worth visiting. Spots like the Echo Amphitheater, also known as Echo Canyon, are easily overlooked. That particular place is very fun to take visitors, as the natural rock formation in the side of a canyon has great acoustics. Plus, the area is beautiful. The Rancho De Las Golondrinas, located near Santa Fe, is a living history museum that also hosts annual events like the Renaissance Fair. Needless to say, locals love visiting it time and time again. It has fascinating New Mexican history plus other festivals like lavender or wine festivals.

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