Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, New Mexico
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
The Gila River in New Mexico is a rare source of freshwater and vibrant life in an otherwise barren desert. People have used the river as a source of water along their journeys through the desert for millennia, but 800 years ago it was the Mogollon people who decided to build their very own apartments in the cliffs overlooking the Gila River.
Today, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is a wonder that draws countless visitors each year to see the incredible engineering and architecture of the dwellings, to celebrate the Mogollon culture, and to enjoy the natural beauty of the deserts of New Mexico. As you plan your trip out to Gila to see the dwellings for yourself, going in a rented RV is the best way to camp in comfort and enjoy everything this park has to offer. Here’s everything you need to know to experience RV camping near Gila Cliff Dwellings.
The cliff dwellings are obviously the centerpiece of the national monument, and the best way to see them and appreciate everything they represent is with a guided tour from a National Park Service ranger. The trailhead back to the dwellings is where you’ll enter the park on foot, and it’s about a 15-30-minute hike back to the cliffs where the dwellings are located. That’s where your tour will begin.
Unlike many historic monuments, Gila Cliff Dwellings still allows visitors to enter the caves and dwellings and see them first-hand. You can do that on your own as long as you’d like outside of your tours, but with a tour guide, you’ll get a chance to enter the famous apartments and learn about the history and culture of the Mogollon people along the way. For more information about tour frequency and scheduled events, check out the Things to Do page of the monument’s website.
While the trails in Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument are nice enough on their own, offering views of the cliffs, desert, and the Gila River, they can also take you to one of the area’s key attractions: natural hot springs. Lightfeather Hot Spring is the closest to the dwellings, just a 20-minute hike down the riverside. This is the best bet for families, as it’s a short, easy hike that will be easy for children and seniors alike.
Looking for a little more adventure? Jordan Hot Spring is by far the most popular hot spring in the area—and it’s open and waiting for you to visit as long as you’re willing to hike. Depending on which trail you decide to take, it’s either a six- or eight-mile hike from the monument’s visitor center. Your reward for a long and sweaty hike through the desert is a chance to take a dip in the famous hot springs and enjoy the cool desert air as it blows across the naturally warm and restorative waters.
The Gila River is what brought the Mogollon people to these cliffs in the first place, with all of the fresh water and everything else it brings. That means fish, and a lot of them just ripe for the catching. With a New Mexico fishing license, you can get the rare opportunity to fish the Gila River while surrounded by the barren desert landscape—quite the contradictory situation, but one that makes for a peaceful, relaxing way to spend a day at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.
So, what can you expect to catch? The famous Gila trout is now protected and must be released, but there are plenty of other species ranging from tiny catch-and-release fish and larger fish you just might want to keep for an unbeatable camp dinner. This includes the tiny loach minnow, spikedace, desert sucker, roundtail chub, and red shiner. On the bigger side, expect to snag largemouth bass, sunfish, channel catfish, and flathead catfish.
If aquatic wildlife isn’t your bag, there are tons of animals above the surface that call Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument home. The monument is part of the Gila National Forest, and the varied landscape means there are a wide variety of species in the area, with over 80 species of mammals, over 40 species of reptiles, and dozens of amphibians and birds to see. Birdwatching in the desert is a particularly big pastime. The famous Montezuma quail and Zone-tailed hawk are favorites for birdwatchers who visit the area, and it’s common to come across a hummingbird near the visitor center in the summertime.
Mammals are seen commonly throughout the park, from large species like black bear, mountain lion, mule deer, and elk. There are tons of smaller species on display, as well, including desert shrews and jackrabbits. As you hike the trails, keep your eyes peeled for the famous Gila monster, which is a rare but exciting species to spot in its namesake habitat. More common are the many species of lizard and snake that call the area home—watch out for the rattlers!
One of the advantages of camping in and around Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument by RV is the opportunity to stay out in the desert after the sun sets. That’s when the temperature drops, the cool desert air has a chance to blow without the scorching sun, nocturnal animals come out, and the sky explodes with some of the most incredible views anywhere in the country.
Because the park is so far from the nearest town—at least a 45 minute drive, but often up to 2 hours—there’s absolutely zero light pollution in the area. That means on a clear night (which is most nights in the desert), you’ll see the Milky Way in all its glory, plus millions of twinkling stars, shining planets, and more. Keep your eyes peeled for satellites and the space station, and don’t forget to bring a telescope!
There’s no camping allowed inside the monument itself, but the park’s location inside the Gila National Forest means there’s plenty of opportunities for public camping nearby. If you want to stay on public lands, be prepared for a rustic experience; there are no RV hookups and many of the campsites only have water available from the Gila River, which must be sanitized before drinking. There are four campgrounds within a 10-minute drive from the monument; click here to learn more about these options.
Another option very close to the National Monument is Campbell’s Gila Hot Springs RV Park in Gila Hot Springs, New Mexico. Beyond a small grocery store and camp shop, this is a no-frills RV campground. If proximity is important to you, however, you can’t beat the RV hookups and 5-mile drive to the Gila Visitor Center.
In Silver City, New Mexico, Ridgepark RV Campground is a great option for rustic camping and breathtaking mountain views. The spacious, full-hookup RV campsites are an ideal home base for exploring the Gila Wilderness and taking in the unbeatable stargazing available out in the New Mexico desert.
A highly rated Good Sam Park in Silver City, Rose Valley RV Ranch & Casitas is the spirit of the American Southwest captured in a quaint desert RV campground. Enjoy the highly-themed Western décor, snag a pull-through, full-hookup RV campsite, then explore the desert to your heart’s content!
About an hour away from the Silver City area in nearby Deming, New Mexico, Little Vineyard RV Resort is worth the drive with its spacious RV campsites, on-site playground and laundry facilities. The park is located across the street from an 18-hole golf course and just down the road from a well-stocked fishing pond in a newly-constructed park.
If you want to stay close to the monument and eat, you need to be prepared to bring your own food with you. While the Gila Visitor Center does have some limited options in terms of snacks, picnicking is the way to go here. The nearest restaurants are at least 40 miles away, but there is a trading post at the RV park in the nearby town of Gila Hot Springs, about 5 miles from the park. Learn more here.
Though it’s up to an hour’s drive away from Gila Cliff Dwellings, Silver City is the closest major town to the monument and it’s your best bet for restaurants and other dining options. There are dozens of options to choose from. Craving classic Southwestern cuisine? Don’t miss Mi Mexico Viejo or La Cocina. Wrangler’s Bar & Grill is a local favorite for classic pub fare. In need of a pick-me-up? Check out Sunrise Espresso, Jumping Cactus Coffee House, or Javalina Coffee House.
For a full list of dining options in Silver City, New Mexico, check out this list on their tourism website.