DAY TRIPS: The Gila Cliff Dwellings in southwestern New Mexico appear from the trail as large holes in the side of the mountain.
appear from the trail as large holes in the side of the mountain that looks like it was made with layers of thick pancakes. The hike to the ruins follows a stream up a rugged canyon. At the end of the trail you've stepped back in time.culture in what is now the. Accessible by ladders, the caves contain at least 46 rooms divided by stacked-rock walls.must have been an idyllic place to live. It's not known why the original people abandoned the site.
Over the centuries,Set aside in 1907, the ruins were one of first of the 18 national monuments created byIt can take more than an hour to drive the last 13 miles of corkscrew two-lane road through the mountains to the park. A museum in the headquarters at the entrance gives an excellent introduction to the natural and cultural history of theThe Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is about 45 miles and two hours north ofAdmission is free.