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Gila Wilderness
IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
Location:	New Mexico, USA
Nearest city:	Silver City, New Mexico
Coordinates:	33°14′25″ N 108°16′51″ W (33.240277777778, -108.28083333333)
Area:	558,014 acres (2258 km²)
Established:	1924
Governing body:	United States Forest Service

Gila Wilderness was designated the world's first wilderness area on June 3, 1924.^[1] Along with Aldo Leopold Wilderness and Blue Range Wilderness, the 558,014 acres (2258 km²) wilderness is part of New Mexico's Gila National Forest. The wilderness is approximately 27 miles from north to south and 39 miles east to west.^[2] The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is found within the wilderness.^[3]

Gila Wilderness is located in southwest New Mexico, north of Silver City. It contains the West Fork, Middle Fork and much of the East Fork of the Gila River; riverside elevations of around 5000 ft (1500 m) are the lowest in the wilderness. The Mogollon Mountains traverse an arc across the southwest of the wilderness. The tallest peak within this range, Whitewater Baldy at 10,895 ft (3321 m), anchors the western point of the wilderness. At the northeast corner is Black Mountain at 9287 ft (2830 m).^[4]

Contents 1 History 2 Flora and fauna 3 Recreation 4 References

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. The Chiricahua band of Apache came into the area between 1200 and 1600.^[2] Because of their fierce protectiveness, the area remained undeveloped into the 1870s.^[5] In 1922, Aldo Leopold, a United States Forest Service supervisor of the Carson National Forest proposed that the headwaters area of the Gila River should be preserved by an administrative process of excluding roads and denying use permits. Through his efforts, this area became recognized in 1924 as the first wilderness area in the National Forest System.^[6] Gila became first congressionally designated wilderness^[2] of the National Wilderness Preservation System when the Wilderness Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

A variety of ecosystems are found in this transition zone between the Chihuahuan Desert and Rocky Mountains. The wilderness includes mesquite, Apache Pine and is the northern-most range of the Chihuahua Pine.^[7] Gila contains one of the world's largest and healthiest Ponderosa Pine forests.^[8] Arizona Sycamore, walnut, maple, ash, cottonwood, alder and willow trees are found along rivers and in canyons.^[2]

Gila is home of predators such as the Bobcat and Cougar. Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer and Pronghorn are all found in the Wilderness. Other mammals include the American Black Bear, Javelina and Coatimundi. The critically endangered Mexican wolf was reintroduced to the wilderness in 1988 with eleven captive-raised individuals. Most died or were killed and more were released the following year.^[9] As of 2006, four packs have established themselves within Gila.^[10] Because of conflicts with livestock owners, the federal predator control program has killed or removed several animals.^[11]

Bighorn Sheep were common throughout the region until about 1900 when they because locally extinct through hunting. Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep were reintroduced to the Gila Wilderness after 1958 from a growing herd of Canadian releases in the Sandia Mountains.^[12] Elk were reintroduced by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish in 1954 with sixteen animals from Yellowstone National Park.^[13]

Game birds include Turkey and Blue Grouse; birds of prey include Common Black Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk, Goshawk, Osprey and Bald Eagle; American Dippers are found in mountain streams.^[7] The wilderness is home to the largest population of Near Threatened Mexican 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.^[14]

Reptiles such as the Arizona Coral Snake and Gila Monster are present. Brown trout, rainbow trout, catfish and bass are found in rivers and streams.^[2] The endangered Gila trout is present in Iron, McKenna and Spruce Creeks. It prefers sufficiently deep water, such as American Beaver ponds, which provide hiding places and can withstand both floods and drought.^[15]

The Gila Wilderness provides opportunities for fishing, hunting, horseback riding and camping. It has miles of trails starting at over fifty easily accessible trailheads.^[2] A visitor center near the cliff dwellings site is about two hours north of Silver City, New Mexico on State Route 15. Hot springs are found within the wilderness. Because it is a wilderness, visitors must to minimize their impact on the natural environment by observing the Leave No Trace principles.

In 2007, a hiker was found alive after being lost 40 days in the Gila Wilderness, setting a new state record for the number of days for a lost person to be found alive. It is not uncommon for hikers to become lost in the Gila; some are never found.^[16]

1. ^ Gila Wilderness at wilderness.net.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Wilderness up close at the National Park Service
3. ^ Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument at the National Park Service.
4. ^ Gila National Forest map
5. ^ Gila Cliff Dwellings at the National Park Service.
6. ^ Aldo Leopold at the US Forest Service.
7. ^ ^{a b} Gila Wilderness at New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.
8. ^ Arizona Mountains forests
9. ^ Guided tours to help gray wolf’s come-back at Commission for Environmental Cooperation.
10. ^ Mexican Wolf Monthly Report: December 2006
11. ^ Federal Government Kills Another Endangered Mexican Gray Wolf at Center for Biological Diversity.
12. ^ Bighorn rooted in state's history.
13. ^ Interstate Swaps and Purchases Aid Game Restoration Program at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
14. ^ Mexican Spotted Owl Recovery Program at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
15. ^ Gila Trout at Center for Biological Diversity.
16. ^ Hiker sets state record while enduring cold, snow at Las Cruces Sun-News.