Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument - Plan Your Visit

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument by National Parks Service

Operating Hours Seasons

The Cliff Dwellings and trailhead Contact Station are open every day of the year. The Gila Visitor Center is open every day except Christmas, and New Year's day.

From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, the Cliff Dwellings are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and the multi-agency Gila Visitor Center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The rest of the year, the Cliff Dwellings are open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the Gila Visitor Center is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Visitors may take self-guided tours at any time during open hours. Those who wish to take guided tours should plan to arrive at the Cliff Dwellings parking lot about 30 minutes early to allow ample time for the one-half mile walk to the starting point of the tour.

Please note that New Mexico is on Mountain Time and observes Daylight Saving, unlike Arizona which is also on Mountain Time but does not observe Daylight Saving.

Getting There

Plane

Limited commercial air service is available to Silver City. The nearest major airports are in El Paso, Texas, and Tucson, Arizona, both of which are about four hours away by automobile.

Car

Take State Highway 15 north from Silver City. Although the distance from Silver City is only 44 miles, the travel time is approximately two hours due to steep and winding mountain terrain. An alternative route from Silver City is along NM State Highway 35 and goes through the Mimbres Valley. Even though it is 25 miles longer than Highway 15, it is less winding, wider, more level, and easier to travel; therefore it takes about the same amount of time as State Highway 15. If your vehicle, travel trailer, or RV is over 20 feet in length, you should take Highway 35.

The highway approaching the monument is a steep 10-12% grade for several miles. You should plan on using lower gears when driving these steep sections of road.

The highways approaching the National Monument are not plowed at nights and on weekends. After snowstorms, please call the Visitor Center at 505-536-9461 to find out about road conditions.

Bus

Tour buses should take Highway 35.

The highway approaching the monument is a steep 10-12% grade for seven miles. You should plan on using lower gears when driving these steep sections of road.

The highways approaching the National Monument are not plowed at nights and on weekends. After snowstorms, please call the Visitor Center at 505-536-9461 to find out about road conditions.

Public Transportation

There is no public transportation to the National Monument.

Getting Around

The Cliff Dwellings parking lot and trailhead is two miles from the Visitor Center.