Gila Backpacking: Day 2--1 Mountain, 14 Switchbacks, 19 River Crossings. Here's how to do it!

We backpacked the Gila Wilderness Loop trail over 3 days, starting at the Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument and traveling clockwise starting along the West Fork Trail #151, turning North on Big Bear Canyon Trail #28, up over the Mountain and back down the switchbacks to the Middle Fork Trail #157. We then worked our way along the Gila River, and came back out via the Little Bear Canyon Trail #729 (which was an entirely different environment). It was an amazingly beautiful hike, with many different types of scenery and plenty of water to keep us cool. The many water crossings were amazing (we hiked in Altras and just kept on walking), the Jordan Hot/Warm Spring was beautiful, and we had a great time!
Day 2 includes the 2nd half of the Big Bear Canyon Trail, the Mountain top, and the first 19 water crossings, in the Gila National Forest in New Mexico. We have also included TIPS FOR WATER CROSSINGS and Bloopers at the end. Enjoy!
How to get there: The trailhead parking is at the Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument, and is just north of Silver City at the end of of State Highway 15.
New Mexico Trail Maps: www.traillink.... (all New Mexico Trails are numbered -- see numbers in description)
Gila National Forest: www.fs.usda.go...
Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument: www.nps.gov/gicl

[@GeezerAdventures]

Feel free to leave comments if you have any questions at all, and we will answer those as soon as possible!

[@sambeasley9432]

Great video. I really liked the river.

[@GeezerAdventures]

It was beautiful!

[@sibylbeasley3182]

Enjoyed the video.

[@GeezerAdventures]

Thank you!