GILA TRAILS

Ready for Adventure

A new year, outdoor opportunities

Posted

Now is the time to plan adventures for 2022. We have so many outdoor opportunities in our area. Below, we highlight a few recently improved trails. For a list of additional trails improved in 2021, check out: www.gilatrailsinfo.org/2021-trail-accomplishments.

Railroad, Crest and Gallinas Trails – In the Black Range near Emory Pass

This popular creek to crest to creek loop, which starts at Railroad Canyon Campground, was affected by the 2013 Silver Fire. Some sections burned hot while others still support mix conifer. Thanks to Gila BCH, New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors, Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance who worked on these trails in May 2021 and a Montana Forest Service Trail Crew who continued the work in October. Over 800 logs were removed in addition to other trail work.  Be aware of the high intensity burn areas since logs are still falling at a rapid rate in these sections. Due to its popularity, this trail will likely receive yearly maintenance. Funding for this trail project was thanks to National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance and Forest Service funding

Flying V Trail #706 – North End of the Gila Wilderness

The Flying V trail is on the northside of the Gila Wilderness is near Aeroplane Mesa Campground and within an hour of Snow Lake. The trail travels through open grassland with expansive views, then flows into Pinion /Juniper until it drops steeply into Flying V Canyon with open ponderosa canyon bottom leading to the Middle Fork. This trail can be used as an out and back, or as a part of a loop when connecting it with other trails recently maintained. See trail cleared map at www.gilatrailsinfo.org/trails-cleared-map to know what other trails have been recently worked.

The trail work in October 2021 improved from the trailhead to the Middle Fork Trail addressing over two decades of deferred maintenance. Gila BCH plans to work on the remainder of the Flying V Trail which connects with the Trotter Trail. Stay tune. Thanks to the Forest Service, through the Great American Outdoors Act, for covering expenses for this trail project. Note: the 2-mile side road to the Flying V trail is only suitable for high clearance vehicles or bikes.

For more information about these 3 trails, check out www.gilatrailsinfo.org/desert-exposure

As always – trail conditions can change at any moment. So, travel at your own risk.


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