Agnostik
National Monument · NM

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

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 and raised children in the cliff dwellings for one or two generations. By approximately 1300, the Mogollon had moved on, leaving the walls behind.

nps.gov ↗

Photos

Sunrise view of Gila Cliff Dwellings with brilliant sky.
Visitors enjoy panoramic views of the canyon and dwellings at Gila Cliff Dwellings.
View of Mogollon dwelling rooms within a cave.
Tularosa Phase Mogollon people made these caves their home in the late 1200's.
Cliff Dwellings walls and rooms with narrow catwalk
Most of the dwellings walls are original. Some even preserve a builder's fingerprints that are over 700 years old.
Exterior view of Mogollon Cliff Dwelling
The T-shaped door suggests trade between Mogollon and Ancestral Puebloan.
Distant view of Gila river valley and mountains beyond.
The Oldest Wilderness Area in the United States Awaits.
Light snowfall on red rock cliffs along river.
Winter wonderland along the Gila River
Eroded cliffs reflecting off a river
As the first designated Wilderness Area, the Gila offers endless opportunites peaceful reflection.

Activities

  • Astronomy
  • Stargazing
  • Camping
  • Car or Front Country Camping
  • Food
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Hiking
  • Backcountry Hiking
  • Front-Country Hiking
  • Horse Trekking
  • Horse Camping (see also camping)
  • Horseback Riding
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store