Rate Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
Learn and Explore
Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year. But our work doesn’t stop there.
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Our Mission
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I obtain a park entrance pass?
Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
About this location:
National Monument
Operating Hours & Seasons
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
Entry into the Cliff Dwellings ends at 4 PM. visitors must be out of the monument by 5 PM.
Standard Hours
- Sunday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Monday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Tuesday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Wednesday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Thursday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Friday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Saturday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Gila Visitor Center
Joint Visitor Center for Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument and Gila Wilderness.
Standard Hours
- Sunday:8:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Monday:8:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Tuesday:8:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Wednesday:8:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Thursday:8:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Friday:8:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Saturday:8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Fees & Passes
Entrance Fees:
- $5.00 – Gila Cliff Dwellings Entrance Fee
Daily fee, per adult. Pass holders and children under 16 are free.
Entrance Passes:
- $80.00 – National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass
The pass is good for one year from the date of purchase. The pass is for the pass holder and occupants of a single, private, non-commercial vehicle. OR The pass holder and three persons over the age of 16 where per person fees are charged. Can be used at: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation sites that charge fees. - $0.00 – The National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Military Annual Pass
For entrance or standard amenity fees at Federal Recreation sites for the pass holder and occupants of a single, private, non-commercial vehicle. OR the pass holder and 3 persons over the age of 16 where per person fees are charged. - $0.00 – The National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Lifetime Access Pass
For US citizens medically determined to have a permanent disability that severely limits one or more major life activities. Free entrance for the pass holder and occupants of a single, private, non-commercial vehicle. OR the pass holder and three persons (16 or older) where per person fees are charged. Disability documentation is required. - $10.00 – The National Parks & Federal Reacreational Lands Senior Lifetime Pass
A lifetime pass for US Citizens aged 62 or older. Free entrance for the pass holder and occupants of a single, private, non-commercial vehicle. OR, the pass holder and three persons (16 years or older) where per person fees are charged.
About
Shedding Light on the Mogollon Culture
For thousands of years, groups of nomadic people used the caves of the Gila River as temporary shelter. In the late 1200’s, people of the Mogollon Culture decided it would be a good place to call home. They built rooms, crafted pottery and raised children in the cliff dwellings for about twenty years. Then the Mogollon moved on, leaving the walls for us as a glimpse into the past.
Directions
Regular passenger vehicles can drive 43 miles north of Silver City New Mexico on NM Highway 15. The 46-mile trip can take up to two hours due to the narrow and mountainous curving nature of the road. Large RVs and vehicles pulling trailers should NOT use Hwy 15. From Silver City, take Highway 180 to Santa Clara. Turn left onto Hwy 152 and drive to San Lorenzo. At San Lorenzo, turn left onto Hwy 35 and follow it to its termination at Hwy 15. Turn right on Hwy 15 and follow signs to the park.
Visitor Centers
Gila Visitor Center
Joint Visitor Center for Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument(NPS) and the Wilderness District of the Gila National Forest (USFS). Open every day of the year 8 AM-4:30 PM Mountain Time. Visitors can get information for visiting the park and hiking the Wilderness as well as watch an orientation film, tour the museum and shop the park bookstore. Gila Trailhead Museum
The Trail Head Museum offers an exploration of the history of the Gila Cliff Dwellings and the Mogollon people who called it home in the late 1200s. There’s also an area to discover the natural history of the surrounding Gila Wilderness and plan your back country experience. Park staff are available to interpret, answer questions and help plan visits and hikes. Come discover your heritage and your public lands!
Weather
Weather is extremely variable-Summers are usually in the 80s but approach 100 degree F, winters have occasional snow or temperatures near zero F. Thunderstorms are common in the summer and early fall, usually in the afternoon. Thunderstorms may cause temporary lightning closures.
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