Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
2 campgrounds in the park · 13 nearby · 25 free and dispersed sites within 25 mi
Photo: NPS/Janice Wei
3 current alerts
As of Sep 20, 2026 · from nps.gov
- InformationWater AvailabilityThere is NO water at the scorpion campgrounds and the trailhead for the cliff dwellings. Water is available at the Visitor Center, Woody's corral and TJ's corral.
- InformationNo Pets are allowed on the Cliff Dwelling TrailPets are not allowed onto the Gila Cliff Dwelling Trail. Kennels are available at the Trailhead on a First Come First Serve basis and are available to those that are going on the Cliff Dwelling Trail not the Wilderness trails.
- InformationSecure trash and foodPack 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.
At a glance
- In the park
- 2 campgrounds
- Near the park
- 13 campgroundsWithin 25 mi
- Free and dispersed
- 25 sitesWithin 25 mi
Where to camp
Camping in the park 2
Camping near the park 13
- Aerial viewCampground
Gila Hot Springs Campground
4.4 mi · Gila Hot Springs, NM
- Aerial viewPublic Land
Mesa Campground
15 mi · Lake Roberts Heights, NM
About Gila Cliff Dwellings
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…
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.
Photos: NPS Photo
Things to do
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
Plan your visit
Getting there
Passenger vehicles can drive north of Silver City, New Mexico to the monument on NM Hwy 15. The 46 mile trip can take up to two hours due to the narrow and mountainous curving nature of the road. RVs and vehicles…
Weather
Weather is extremely variable. Summers are usually around 90° F. but approach 100° F. Winters have occasional snow or temperatures near 0° F. Thunderstorms are common in the summer and early fall, usually in the…
Plan your visit
Hours
The National Monument and Visitor Center are open all year and are closed only for Thanksgiving Day (the 4th Thursday of November), Christmas Day (December 25) and New Year's Day (January 1).
Getting there
Passenger vehicles can drive north of Silver City, New Mexico to the monument on NM Hwy 15. The 46 mile trip can take up to two hours due to the narrow and mountainous curving nature of the road. RVs and vehicles pulling trailers should NOT use NM Hwy 15. From Silver City, take US Highway 180 to Santa Clara. Turn left onto NM Hwy 152 and drive to San Lorenzo. At San Lorenzo, turn left onto NM Hwy 35 and follow it to its termination at NM Hwy 15. Turn right on NM Hwy 15 and follow signs to the park.
Weather
Weather is extremely variable. Summers are usually around 90° F. but approach 100° F. Winters have occasional snow or temperatures near 0° F. Thunderstorms are common in the summer and early fall, usually in the afternoon. https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=33.2296&lon=-108.2639#.YUX0_SuSmUk
Camped at Gila Cliff Dwellings? You could be the first to say which site you'd pick again.
Reviews, photos and cell signal reports from real stays help the next camper choose between Upper Scorpion Campground and Lower Scorpion Campground.