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  1. #1
    Senior Member Sarae's Avatar
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    Hanging in the Gila

    If you are looking for a place to set up your hammock in the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico... well, there are many places that will do. But, this place is one of my favorites.

    Destination: Jordan Hot Springs
    Hike: a 14 + mile lolly pop loop hike, 6 + miles in and 8+ miles out
    Water crossings: about 40 total

    We drove over from Tucson on Friday night, stopping for dinner at Jalisco Cafe (Yum!) in Silver City before heading through the Gila NF to the Scorpion Campgrounds. Hit the trail on Saturday mid-morning. It's about 2 miles of exposed uphill before dropping into Little Bear Canyon, where the magic starts to happen. The canyon walls close in and soon you are at the junction with the Middle Fork of the Gila River. Continued up stream and got to Jordan at around 2:30. Set up camp amongst the ponderosa pines and boxelder trees. Then headed over to soak in the hot springs. Had a fantastic dinner of fajitas. The star gazing is pretty awesome here. Sunday, we packed up and headed back to the cars. Perfect weather, awesome place.

    the cliffs along the middle fork of the gila river

    this weekend's setup

    river crossing

    jordan hot spring

    gila hot springs, very hot, only .25ish miles from the visitor center
    In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. ~John Muir

  2. #2
    Senior Member NCPatrick's Avatar
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    Wow, what an awesome trip. I'm jealous.


    "Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities."
    - Mark Twain
    “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.”
    - John Burroughs

  3. #3
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    Hey,

    How hard a hike is this?
    "Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground."

  4. #4
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
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    Still cold here and your Trip Report made me feel warm......
    It looks so nice.
    Shug
    Whooooo Buddy)))) All Secure in Sector Seven

  5. #5
    Senior Member mbiraman's Avatar
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    I like all that SW stuff. Thanks.
    " The mind creates the abyss, the heart crosses it."

    “The measure of your life will not be in what you accumulate, but in what you give away.” ~Wayne Dyer

    www.birchsidecustomwoodwork.com

  6. #6
    Member louie's Avatar
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    That is on my wish list...
    now more than ever... thanks for the pics
    _______________
    two brain cells fighting for the window seat
    Louie

  7. #7
    Senior Member Sarae's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mega82 View Post
    Hey,

    How hard a hike is this?
    Well, I think I would put this at an advanced-beginner hiking level. Mostly because of all of the stream crossings. If you can hike for 8 miles and don't mind some cautious footwork on all of the stream crossings, then go for it. It was my first backpacking trip ever a few years back.
    In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. ~John Muir

  8. #8
    Senior Member Sarae's Avatar
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    Thanks everyone!

    Detailed hike description and directions to the trailhead can be found here if anyone wants to give it a try.

    http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1827
    In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. ~John Muir

  9. #9
    Senior Member Festus's Avatar
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    Becoming more popular

    It's been very interesting to me that the Gila area is gaining in popularity. I have a 95yr old Grandmother that lives just outside the actual town of Gila, and the Gila River, literally runs right through her backyard. As a young boy, I would swim in the Gila nearly every summer when I went for a visit. I'm heading down that way in June with my 2-kids so I'll have to take a short drive and check out this hike. Thanks for posting your trip report.

    When you went, did you check out the Gila cliff dwellings? If not, then next time you should. Very interesting. It's one of the few that you can still walk into.

    Another area to check out, is the Whitewater River located in Glenwood. They call it the Glenwood Catwalks, as there are hanging catwalks from some of the canyon walls. There was once a pipe that ran from the top of the canyon to the town of Glenwood where they were mining. Long ago, my Grandparents would walk the pipe (tight-rope style) and fish the river. Very beautful country. A good (short) thru hike is to start in the town of Mogollon (ghost mining town) and hike over the summit to the Whitewater River. Heading downstream it drops you into the town of Glenwood. I did I as a day-hike several years ago, but it's best if you spend at least one night in the canyon.

    I hope to see more posts concerning the Land of Enchantment, in the future. Thanks again for your trip report.

    "I'd rather be in the mountains thinking about God, than in church thinking about the mountains" - John Muir


    Festus

  10. #10
    Senior Member Fronkey's Avatar
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    Awesome pictures.

    Fronkey

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