November Gila Trails Update

In this Newsletter:

- Current Conditions

- Recommended Adventures

- Planning Future Adventures

- 2023 Trail Accomplishments

- Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund

Current Conditions

New Maps!

Gila Wilderness Map

The Gila National Forest (GNF) recently published the updated Gila Wilderness Map. Along with mileage, it has updated trail locations for a number of the trails that were previously inaccurately mapped.

Available at the Silver City Forest Service Office or Gila Hike and Bike.

Gila National Forest Atlas

The GNF also updated their 71/2 Quadrangle Topo Maps Booklet. It has 127 map sheets covering the Gila National Forest. While it does not offer the topo line detail of regular USGS topo maps, it can still be a good resource.

Available at the Silver City Forest Service Office.

An online version is also downloadable via map apps such as Avenza and Gaia.

Trails Cleared Map

Yearly, we collaborate with the Forest Service to create a geospatial PDF map of the trails cleared in the past few years. It can be downloaded onto a map app on your phone and referenced during adventures in the Gila. Due to some delays, it likely won't be ready until December.

You can find it here when it is published. Currently, last year's is available.

Map for adventures throughout New Mexico:

NMVFO now has a map of trails they have improved throughout New Mexico in 2023. When exploring a new area, it is nice to know it was recently maintained.

Check out the map for planning your adventures.

Adventure at your own risk.

Trail conditions change.

Recreate Responsibly

Day Adventures

Photo Credit: Paul Karas

Little Whitewater Trail #214

Since the 2012 fire, this trail has been a thicket of brush, downed trees, and non-existent tread.

After our work in October 2023, the trail was improved to the Nabours Mountain area. If you go up there, spend some time off-trail exploring the top of Nabours Mountain. Views of the Gila Wilderness expand from up there but you won't see these views from the trail.

This spectacular and steep 5 miles (5000 to 9000 ft) passes through pinion/Juniper, ponderosa, mixed conifer, and aspens while offering amazing views.

Note that the last half mile is passable for hikers but still needs additional work to make it nice. Equine may prefer to turn around at Pine Flats.

This trail goes up to 9000 feet so be prepared for snow if we get a storm before you hike this trail in the cold season.

Accessing the Trail: Currently, the trailhead can only be accessed by high-clearance vehicles. The last 1/4 mile before the trailhead is where the problem area is. The county stated they will fix this section, but we do not know when.

Horse trailers should park at the Glenwood Community Park and ride from there. It adds another mile.

Interactive Map

Map - Geospatial PDF

Rabb Park Trail # 747

A nice winter place to explore since much of the trail is in the sun.

Trail Description

Interactive Map

photo credit Julia Phews

Tadpole Ridge Trail #232 - update

Thanks to the dedicated work of some wonderful individuals, #232 is open all the way through for hikers, but is not suitable for bikes and recreational horse riders at this time. There are a few sections in the middle that are narrow and rough trail tread. Regardless, this is a huge improvement over what the trail conditions have been for the past many years. Enjoy!

Planning Future Adventures

Getting to Turkeyfeather Pass

Turkeyfeather Pass on the north side of the Gila Wilderness is a place worth seeing. Previously, this area was hard to get to due to trail conditions. The West Fork Trail #151 up Cooper Canyon proper was blown out in post Whitewater flooding in 2013. This trail is still not passable, but other options are now available and will continue to improve.

Here are some ways to access Turkeyfeather Pass:

1) Via the Cooper Trail #141 and Clayton Mesa # 175. Both of these have been recently worked on.

Map

2)The most direct route is an unofficial trail that cuts off of # 141 soon after Cooper Canyon and then climbs up to Turkey Feather Pass.

Map

3) Forest Service reroute: To address the blow out in Cooper Canyon, the Forest Service is creating a reroute. This is still in the NEPA process and will hopefully be done some time next year.

4) Via the Jerky Mountains: We have plans to finish the Lilley Mountain Trail #164 over the Jerky Mountains in May of next year. This scenic trail is a good way to access Turkey Feather Pass in a round about way. Stay tuned...

Water: Seasonally there is water in Turkeyfeather Creek down from the Pass and at Turkeyfeather Spring, which is about 1.3 miles from the Pass. The meadow at Turkey Feather Pass often has water for stock in the spring and fall.

Photo Credit: Garrett Delmas