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Best Gila Wilderness
Dayhiking Tips

By Diane Spicer

Gila Wilderness dayhiking opens a door into a vast rocky, remote world populated by a mind blowing array of flora and fauna.

Where is this dayhiking treasure?

• In Southwestern New Mexico, USA.

It's not easy to get to, and it's definitely not easy to forget.

Let me explain...

Gila Wilderness dayhiking:
it's different!

If your eyes are trained to equate hiking with thickly forested hillsides watered by abundant rainfall, or alpine ridges to glacier covered vistas, the Gila will transport you to an entirely new paradigm of hiking.

Water is the key to this land.

Lack of it: Dry, dusty, hot trails that make you thirsty.

Too much of it: Carved canyons and creek beds that might be dry the day you hike them but won't be when a thunderstorm rolls in.

Just enough of it: Follow the murmurs of a gentle creek; see how far your explorations can take you in a day.

And river crossings? Don't look for any rock hopping across icy cold water.

Instead, wade across and enjoy evaporative cooling on your hot feet. Ahhh!

Another fun fact about
the Gila Wilderness

People have been traveling this land for many, many generations.

The cliff dwellings (below) are eerie, thought provoking and give you the tingles if you sit down and really think about the gutsy people who not only built them but raised families in them.

Get ready to learn some new plants, too.

• Cacti and delicate flowers exist side by side. Or sometimes on the same plant!
  
• Trees and shrubs will be unfamiliar to anyone coming into this area for the first time.

And the wildlife spotting opportunities are fantastic.

Bear, cougar, and deer prints are not uncommon in the mud along creeks or on the soft sandy trails.

Wolves have been re-introduced, so it's possible to spot their tracks.

If you're a birder, this is the spot for you!

• The turkey vultures circling overhead are a thrill, and a good reminder to take good care of yourself during your Gila wilderness dayhiking explorations.
• Colorful song birds, small shy birds in the under brush, hawks, wild turkeys... and amazing list!
  

Gila Wilderness dayhiking tips

If you've never hiked here before, be mindful of a few things to keep yourself safe.

• Most things are spiny, prickly or sharp edged, so be mindful of where you place your feet and hands.
• Wear long sleeves and pants, even in hot weather, if you want to guard your epidermis from sharp things and ultraviolet radiation.
• The air can be single digit humidity, so coat your nostrils with petroleum jelly (a thin layer, don't get carried away).
• Drink, drink, drink water and consider adding electrolytes to prevent lethargy or cramps.
• A broad brimmed hat is absolutely essential to keep your face and neck shielded from direct sun.
  

Lots more hot weather hiking tips are right here for you.

More Gila Wilderness dayhiking tips

• Remember that you're at high altitude, even when you're on a relatively flat trail. Watch for signs of altitude sickness: feeling wiped out, headaches, nausea, irritability, trouble breathing.
• Be prepared to turn around and head back to lower elevations if you feel weird. Don't keep pushing higher.
• Snakes and scorpions are a definite possibility in sunny as well as shaded areas. Some are non-poisonous, others will deliver venom in amounts to make you sick.
• When you have to go off trail (making a pit stop, for example), use your hiking poles to warn snakes of your approach.
• You will spot lots of poison ivy along the creeks; long pants will protect you from it in areas where you have to scramble around washouts or debris piles.
• Be careful where you put your hands and backside. If you're used to casually sitting down on any surface, remind yourself to check first.
• Forest Service roads to trail heads are generally in good repair, but you don't want to be on them in thunderstorms. Heed the warning signs about flash floods.
• Some areas have burned recently, making travel through them hazardous in windy or wet conditions. Plan your route carefully during the summer months of the monsoon.

Gila dayhiking resources for you

If you'd like some general information about this area, the Forest Service is the place to start.

Here is a complete list of dayhiking trails, but be sure to check for current conditions before you go.

Feel free to shoot me an email and I'll share what I know about this fascinating place to experience seriously digressive dayhiking.

• Use this CONTACT link.

If you're looking for an unusual, remote place to explore, consider the Gila!

It might be your gateway into bigger adventures on long distance hiking trails like these.

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Gila Wilderness Dayhiking