The drive to Gila is memorable and dramatic. There are two routes we took the longer one to get to the monument through the Mimbres River Valley. This way included a stop in a small town for breakfast. It was a buffet in an old church and it was free, served five days a week, Tuesday to Saturday. The full story will be in the Moose’s review also posting today. The trip back was though Silver City and even more of a wild road.
The Mimbres were an ancient tribal people but the name was given to them from an early Spanish governor. They occupied the region from possibly as early as 700 but were prominent 900 to 1300. The Mimbres people are known for their stunning pottery designs, more on that in a bit.
The Gila Cliff Dwellings are in the midst of the massive Gila Wilderness Area, remote and almost roadless. To reach the GCD you drive 45 miles north of Silver City, our route intersected that road 26 miles from the destination. It went up and over two high mountains on winding, often narrow, but paved roads and took just over an hour. The end of the road is the Visitor Center where we stopped and got orientation. Then a two mile road to the start of the loop trail to the dwellings. You get instructions at the trail head from another ranger, the usual stuff but one caution was striking, in the “do not touch, sit” etc, he mentions the walls are 80% original. Wow. You start across the Mimbres river, this is very near where Geronimo was born. Then a gentle ascent in a small canyon with the steep walls towering over you. Up 180 steps ( I read the brochure) to the base of the dwellings. Here is where this monument becomes so unique, you are permitted up into the actual site, there are ladders and a well marked path but you simply are where they lived. Extraordinary.
About 30 to 60 people lived here for a generation from circa 1260 to 1300. Like most sites here there is no known reason for the abandonment. The Mimbres people gradually assimilated into the Apaches and their culture is gone with the exception of the pottery. This is an outstanding park and an adventure to and from as well as while you are here.
