Be advised that the NPS has issued alerts for this park.
Flash flood risk on HWY 35 and HWY 15
Hwy 35 and HWY15 is at risk for flash flooding. Please exercise caution while traveling and check the latest weather updates before your trip. Don't drown, turn around!
Heat Advisory
Heat illnesses occur often on the Cliff Dwellings Trail—even with an active monsoon season. Always carry and drink plenty of water—at least 1 liter. Dehydration and heat illness can happen quickly, even on short hikes. Be prepared and hike early.
Monsoon Season Flash Flooding
As we begin the North American Monsoon season it is important to remember that this weather brings sudden storms, lightning, and flash flood risk to the Gila. Check forecasts before visiting, avoid canyons during rain, expect rapidly changing conditions.
Secure trash and food
Pack it in, pack it out! There are no trash services in or around the monument. All food & trash must be secured inside a vehicle. Ravens routinely open zipped bags & tear into trash bags left outside or in the bed of a truck.
For thousands of years, groups of nomads used the caves above Cliff Dweller Creek as temporary shelter. In the late 1200s, people of the agricultural Mogollon (Southern Ancestral Pueblo) culture made it a home. They built rooms, crafted pottery a...
At the Trailhead Bookstore, you will find our park store operated by the Western National Parks Association. Many items related to the park, the Gila Wilderness, and to the Continental Divide Trail are available, as well as souvenirs and American Indian crafts. Park staff are available to answer questions and help plan visits. Come discover your heritage and your public lands.
Canyon Companion: Self-guided tour of the dwellings
This tour is designed for those hiking Cliff Dweller Canyon to view the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Allow at least one hour to hike the one-mile loop and explore the dwellings.
