January Gila Trails Update

In this Newsletter:

- Current Conditions

- Day Adventures

- Backcountry Adventures

- Spring Trail Project Schedule

Photo Credit Marion MacDonald

Will Mining Claims affect Trails at Little Walnut and Signal Peak Areas

This includes miles of the CDT - check out the map link,

Corrals Update - at Woody's Corral Trailhead

Photo Credit: Gila Cliff Dwellings Staff

The new corrals at Woody's Corral Trailhead feature manure bays, making it much easier for the Cliff Dwellings National Monument Staff to keep the area clean. Thanks to everyone who has been cleaning the corrals after use, and a big thank you to the Gila Cliff Dwellings Staff!

Come enjoy the new corrals!

See the Day Adventures section below for ride ideas from Woody's Corral Trailhead. Late winter and spring are often great times to ride from here.

In Memory of

Esker Mayberry

With a heavy heart, I am sad to share that one of our incredible packers for our trail projects and a cornerstone of his community, Esker Mayberry, was shot and killed by his neighbor over the holidays.

Esker will be deeply missed. He was passionate about the Gila and spent many days out there. He packed for many of our remote trail projects. He was always considerate of the other hiker volunteers, getting up ridiculously early to help with some of our pack-outs. When he joined us in camp, he would share stories of the Gila's history and his many Gila adventures from his younger days. He often talked about his mother, who was a camp cook in their hunting camps into her 80's. I had hoped he would be in camp with us until that age also.

Thank you, Esker, for sharing your love of the Gila by packing for us and bringing many youth to experience the area’s wildness. You made a difference in your community and beyond.

Above: Esker packing us out of a trail project at the Turkey Creek Trailhead in Nov 2025. He and I had made plans for finishing the trail in Turkey Creek in the spring of 2026.

2025 Average Temps and Trip Planning

"The numbers are officially in for 2025:

New Mexico tied for the 2nd-warmest year on record with 2024. This is all part of a very obvious warming trend since the late 1970s. 9 of the 10 warmest years on record have been since 2000."

~ Meteorologist Grant Tosterud

With the trend of our weather patterns, you may want to reconsider when and where you travel in the Gila. Warmer days and less rain and snow.

To play with the stats and see for yourself, check out the Grant County average temps NOAA link. It shows data from 1895 to 2025 - 131 years. You can also view the precipitation, Max & Min Temperatures, Drought indexes and more: Climate at a Glance | County Time Series | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

For Grant Country, this is the hottest year in the 131 years of records. See map above or click on link for more info. Climate at a Glance | County Mapping | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

This chart is for New Mexico overall - to see Grant County: Climate at a Glance | County Time Series | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

2025 Trail Accomplishments for

Gila Back Country Horsemen

Thanks to everyone who helped make our 2025 trail project season possible!

We are incredibly grateful!

Despite an incredibly dry and high fire danger year, we still managed to get a lot done.

View the Accomplishments List to help plan your next adventure in the Gila!

Forest Service National Trail Program Status Report

Here is the Trail Program Status Report.

While the Gila has been hit hard, losing many of its seasonal trail crew, apparently, other forests have suffered even more damage to their trail programs.

A huge thanks to the FS trail staff who stayed during the tumult of 2025. They have extensive knowledge of the Gila Trails and a passion for trails. We are grateful for their trail expertise and local knowledge as they do what they can with the limited resources and many constraints they face.

Adventure at your own risk.

Trail conditions change.

Recreate Responsibly

Equine Rides from the New Corrals at Woody's Corral TH

With the rise in average temperatures, February and March are quickly becoming great months to camp at Woody's Corral Trailhead and do day rides. Stay in the comfort of your trailers during the cold mornings with your equine in the new corrals and then ride in the optimal temperatures of the sunny days.

And there are so many options for day loops. Here are some ideas:

Loop Near Cliff Dwellings - 4.2 miles

Woody's Corral and EE Canyon Loop - 8 miles

Ring Canyon/Little Creek Trails - 18 miles

Whiterocks and Adobe Canyon Trails - 18 miles

Little Bear and Middle Fork Trails - 11 miles

Ride to the Meadows Overlook - 18 miles

What to consider:

• We can occasionally have snowstorms that make the road (Highway 15) to Woody's Corral or the north-facing trails slippery.
• If we get more rain than predicted or the small amount of snow in the high country melts all at once, the rivers may flood and be impassable or dangerous. Pay attention to the weather.
• Beaver dams can be found along the Middle and West Forks. During low water levels, the beaver dams are not much of an issue, but when the rivers are higher, the water crossings near the beaver dams become very deep.
• There are many other loop configurations and out-and-backs. Don't be limited by this list.
• The trails loops listed have been worked on in the recent past. But trail conditions can change at any moment. If a trail is no longer passable, please notify us with the issue: groundworktrails@gmail.com

Spring Canyon Trail #247

The Spring Canyon Trail #247, also known as the Sapillo Trail, can be a great winter/early spring adventure - with a few caveats.

It has one mile of canyon walking with river crossings. With the current low flow, the crossings are shallow enough for mid calf water boots. Waterproof socks are also a nice option. Or just deal with the cold and bring an extra pair of socks and hiking shoes for after the first mile. This creek section of the trail has not been maintained yet because of the cold, but hopefully we can work on it soon. Expect some brush and downed trees, but it is still passable for equine.

Please note that Sapillo Creek is in the Trout Fire watershed. Do not attempt this trail during potential flooding.

After the creek crossing, the trail is sunny with very little shade, climbing out of Sapillo Canyon because the canyon narrows too much for a trail downstream. The trail travels in and out of the Spring Canyon drainages, meaning lots of elevation gain and loss - good exercise but hikers might want hiking poles. The experience has much improved since it was recently brushed, logged, and spot retreaded by Gila Back Country Horsemen.

At about mile 4.5, views of the slot canyon below appear as well as more views in general. This, in my opinion, is the highlight of the trail.

At about 4.8, you will pass through a green gate. Beyond here, the trail is narrowish on an exposed hillside. Some equine riders may not like this. While the trail is not maintained all the way to the river, it should be passable if you want to go that entire way.

When you are done, turn around and return the way you came.

Trailhead: Note that the trailhead is on private property. Please be respectful.

For Hikers: Park at the small unmarked parking area at a tight bend on Highway 15 just west of the junction with Highway 35. Do not park where there are private property and no trespassing signs.

For Equine: Park at the big pull-off and scenic signs at the junction of Highway 35 and 15. Ride at your own risk crosscountry to get to the trail.

Backcountry Adventures

This trail, newly maintained, follows the Gila River for a few crossings along an old two-track. Then it turns up Turkey Creek. Be sure to make that turn rather than continue along the Gila River and its network of old roads. The first part of the trail can be confusing. Once on the single track heading up Turkey Creek, the trail crosses Turkey Creek several times.

Around 3.5 miles in, the trail climbs steeply up Skeleton Ridge and follows this exposed, rocky ridge for another 3.5 miles. Views abound.

From there, it drops back into Turkey Creek, crossing the creek multiple times. Expect the trail along the creek to be brushy, as vegetation quickly grows back. Poison ivy may also be present along sections of this trail near the creek. Continue up canyon until you see a wall of brush, which is where we stopped working in 2024.

Or take a side jaunt up the Sycamore Canyon Trail. Based on user reports, someone has been maintaining this trail, so it is in much better condition. How far up the canyon the maintenance extends is unknown.

Driving to the Trailhead: High-clearance vehicles 4WD recommended but not required (depends on the current road conditions and the driver). As of Nov 2025 the road to the trailhead was in rough condition and is not passable for low-clearance vehicles and not recommended for stock trailers. The road is narrow in places with steep drop-offs and blind curves.

Equine riders: Since the road to the trailhead is not good enough for trailers, many riders park at the box day use area and ride unofficial trails up the Gila River from there. This adds many more miles.

Spring Trail Project Schedule

Check out the rest of the spring Trail Project Schedule

CDT – multiple locations

East Railroad Trail #130

Ring Canyon Trail #162

McKnight Canyon Trail #92

Clear Creek Trail #165

West Fork Corral Trail #814

And more…

Enjoy Gila Trails!

Photo Credit: Jayne Hempstead. Esker packing for a trail project Oct 2024

Thank you, Esker, for all your help in keeping the Gila Trails open.

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