Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument announces that the national monument, including the Gila Visitor Center and the trail to the cliff dwellings, will be changing their operational hours to better assist visitation. The change in hours will be in effect starting Friday November 1, 2019 and will remain in place through Saturday February 29, 2020. 

The Gila Visitor Center will be open from 9:30 am to 4 pm daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day when the visitor center will be closed. The Gila Visitor Center is often the first stop for visitors to the wilderness or the cliff dwellings. Here visitors can get information on visiting the cliff dwellings, hiking or camping in the wilderness, view the park film, visit the museum or purchase books and other items in the park store. 

To visit the cliff dwellings you will hike a moderately strenuous one mile trail. The trail must be started between 10 am and 3 pm daily and generally takes between 1 and 11⁄2 hours to complete. Visitors will have until 4 pm to exit the monument. If you are planning on hiking up to the dwellings we suggest wearing layers and bringing water, even during cold weather. No food or flavored drinks are allowed on the trail. 

The change in operating hours will not affect Gila National Forest or Gila Wilderness trails or corral facilities.