The Gila Wilderness is located in southwest New Mexico, north of Silver City and east of Reserve.

The Mimbres people, a subgroup of the Mogollon were active between 1000 and 1130 in the Gila Wilderness area, leaving cliff dwellings, ruins and other evidence of their culture.

[9] Arizona sycamore, walnut, maple, ash, cottonwood, alder and willow trees are found along rivers and in canyons.

Other mammals include the black bear, collared peccary, gray fox and white-nosed coati.

[11] Because of conflicts with livestock owners, the federal predator control program has killed or removed several animals.

[13] Elk were reintroduced by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish in 1954 with sixteen animals from Yellowstone National Park.

[14] Game birds include wild turkey and dusky grouse; birds of prey include common black hawk, zone-tailed hawk, goshawk, osprey and bald eagle; American dippers are found in mountain streams.

[8] The wilderness is home to the largest population of near threatened spotted owls, which prefer Douglas-fir or white fir stands and can be found in ponderosa pine forests with a well-developed Gambel oak understory.

It prefers sufficiently deep water, such as American beaver ponds, which provide hiding places and can withstand both floods and drought.

Many trails are relatively easy, following stream valleys bordered by cliffs or crossing flat-topped mesas.

[19] The Gila Wilderness provides opportunities for fishing, hunting, backpacking, horseback riding and camping.

It has hundreds of miles of hiking and horseback trails starting at over fifty easily accessible trailheads.

[2] A visitor center near the Gila cliff dwellings is about two hours north of Silver City, New Mexico on State Route 15.