Gila Wilderness

Gila Wilderness
IUCN category Ib (wilderness area)
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Location	Catron/Grant counties, New Mexico, United States
Nearest city	Silver City, New Mexico
Coordinates	33°14′25″N 108°16′51″W / 33.24028°N 108.28083°W / 33.24028; -108.28083
Area	558,014 acres (225,820 ha)
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 acre (225,820 ha) (872 sq. mi.) wilderness is part of New Mexico's Gila National Forest. The wilderness is approximately 27 miles (43 km) from north to south and 39 miles (63 km) east to west.^[2]

U.S. Wilderness Areas do not allow motorized or mechanized vehicles, including bicycles. Camping, hunting, and fishing are allowed with proper permit, but no roads, buildings, logging, or mining are permitted. Wilderness areas within National Forests and Bureau of Land Management areas allow hunting in season.

The Gila Wilderness is located in southwest New Mexico, north of Silver City and east of Reserve. It contains the West Fork, Middle Fork and much of the East Fork of the Gila River; riverside elevations of around 4,850 feet (1,480 m) are the lowest in the wilderness. The Mogollon Mountains traverse an arc across the wilderness. The tallest peak within this range, Whitewater Baldy at 10,895 ft (3,321 m), is in the northwest part of the wilderness along with several other summits more than 10,000 ft (3,048 m) high. At the northeast corner is prominent Black Mountain rising to 9,287 ft (2,831 m).^[3] The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is adjacent to the wilderness.^[4]

The Gila Wilderness is the largest designated wilderness area in New Mexico.