What if we told you that some of the most amazing ancient civilizations to ever exist on Earth are right here in our own home country? Instead of venturing across the world, a trip to the state of New Mexico could do the trick.

On our brand new TSX trek, Gila Wilderness New Mexico, we’ll journey deep into New Mexico’s legendary Gila Wilderness—home to ancient cliff dwellings, sacred hot springs, and wild rivers that have been shaping lives and landscapes for thousands of years. Along the way, we’ll learn the stories of the Mogollon and Apache people, stand in awe of the first wilderness area ever designated, and experience both unmatched solitude and renewed inspiration.

A Conservation Success Story

This trek highlights one of our country’s greatest collective achievements– preserving our nation’s wilderness. In 1924, thanks to the urging of the great conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico became the world’s very first designated Wilderness Area and has served as a model for future preservation efforts of wilderness throughout the world ever since. The Gila Wilderness is a swath of more than 558,000 acres and is part of the larger Gila National Forest management area which, in total, manages 3.3 million acres of public federal land.

Aldo Leopold is a conservation hero to many, and continues to inspire future generations through the wilderness areas he fought to preserve

“In wilderness is preservation of the world” as Henry David Thoreau would say.

Living within the wilderness area now are namesake species like the gila monster, gila trout, gila woodpecker, and gila topminnow. Also living in the wilderness are coyote, mexican spotted owl, elk, deer, black bear, bighorn sheep, montezuma quail, beavers, bobcats, gray fox, and many more species. Some rarely seen species that excite our guides are the white-nosed coati and the mexican gray wolf, both considered Endangered species in New Mexico.

How The Gila First Caught our Attention

From the Sierra Nevada to the Grand Canyon, the Lost Coast to Baffin Island, TSX has a history of seeking out extraordinary places with landscapes that test us, inspire us, and stay with us forever. The Gila caught our attention because not only is it a backcountry area full of beauty, but it also represents something bigger: a living link between ancient cultures and modern conservation. We are continuously on the hunt for new exciting backcountry opportunities for our TSX family.

It took a few days for our guides to scout a promising route, but once they found this one, they knew it was the perfect fit. The pilot group was a class from Tahoe Expedition Academy, and the trek wove seamlessly into their curriculum on ancient cultures and land preservation. The relaxed pace created space for lessons to unfold each day in the very landscape they were studying. Watching students not only learn about this place but also form a genuine connection to it simply by being there was incredible. It was a great reminder that you can only learn so much about a place from a book or the internet– the next step is to actually experience it.

TSX guides exploring Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument during our scouting mission.

Route Overview

A route taking you approximately 25 miles through the Gila Wilderness, along major river corridors, through tall canyons, and atop high mesas.

Our trek begins at the southern edge of the Gila Wilderness, at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. After exploring the preserved cliff dwellings and learning from local experts, we’ll leave the crowds behind and step into a backcountry seldom traveled by others for a true wilderness experience.

Starting on the West Fork Trail, we will follow the West Fork of the Gila River for several miles before reaching our first camp and searching for lesser known backcountry cliff dwellings. The next morning we will be departing from the river and climbing up onto a high mesa that will give us incredible 360 views of the surrounding wilderness, showing us just how far “out there” we have traveled.

A peep-hole looking out from the hidden backcountry cliff dwelling we found during our pilot trip. Thousands of reed arrows and arrow heads were initially found littered on the floor of this dwelling upon its discovery in the late 1800s.

Up on the view point we like to call “the diving board”, it’s easy to imagine yourself as a cliff dweller thousands of years prior, surveying the land beyond, maybe in search of food, friends, or foe. Were these indigenous peoples using the caves to hide from something or someone? Were they merely creating shelter for themselves? There are still many unanswered questions around the culture of the nomadic Mogollon peoples but you will have plenty of time to ponder the archaeological evidence as we make our way through the landscape.

Descending from the mesa, we make our way down towards the Middle Fork of the Gila River which we will be following all day through the tall rocky canyons. From here on out, our route is more or less a river hike, where we will cross this river no less than 74 times during the remainder of our trek. Moving through the water like this is a unique and almost spiritual experience and we will very quickly embrace the wetness of our feet and come to enjoy the water steadily flowing past our calves. A true water adventure, albeit still under the power of your own two legs!

The river will lead us around river bend after river bend to Jordan Hot Springs, a backcountry natural hot spring pool that we will have the opportunity to soak in after a long day of river travel. On our last morning in the river canyon, our route will take us up and away from the Gila River, passing through Little Bear Canyon where you may see some hidden pictographs high on the rock walls, and finally back to the front-country where we will return to the road and our vehicles.

This route was designed to give you a taste of everything the Gila Wilderness has to offer– ancient civilizations, wild rivers, solitude in nature, backcountry hot springs, and a true wilderness experience. Every river bend, canyon, and cave dwelling offers a new window into the history, mystery, and wonder of the Gila.

Caption: Beautiful scenery and pristine wilderness backpacking through the Gila River canyon

Comparing the Gila Trek to other TSX treks

While this trek will include all of the classic TSX bells and whistles– great guides, great food, great company– it also includes historical lessons and a bit more education than many of our other treks. We are lucky that Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument sits right next to our beginning trailhead and we will have the opportunity to hear about the place from rangers and experts before heading into the landscape ourselves. We don’t often have time to speak with experts during our Grand Canyon Challenges, so this is a unique educational opportunity to glean some local knowledge.

While the climbs are less intense than our Trans Sierra Xtreme Challenge and many of our Grand Canyon treks, there are some short steep ascents and descents getting to and leaving the river canyon on this one. With less vertical gain than the Grand Canyon and Trans-Sierra routes, but more gain than our Lost Coast trek, this is the perfect route choice for both first-time backpackers and seasoned backpackers looking for something new. Proper training ahead of any TSX backpacking trip is always encouraged.

Rock hoodoos hundreds of feet above the Gila River.

Overall, this is an excellent trip for anyone interested in the history of ancient cultures or indigenous cultures of the American Southwest, those wanting to take a trip through America’s first designated wilderness, or those just looking for an exciting backcountry adventure with TSX. It effortlessly blends archaeology, natural beauty, and wilderness immersion. Whether this is your first backpacking trip or your tenth, you’ll be challenged, inspired, and connected to something far bigger than yourself.

If you’re fascinated by ancient cultures, passionate about wilderness preservation, or simply hungry for a new adventure in a place most have never heard of, this brand new TSX trek is for you. We are so excited to finally open this trek up to the public and we hope you will join us in the Gila this season!