Discover Gila National Forest
Gila National Forest in New Mexico is one of the state’s best-kept outdoor secrets, and it makes for an amazing weekend trip from Phoenix. At just 4.5 hours away, this forest is the perfect road trip destination if you’re looking for cooler weather, starry skies, and unique hiking experiences. While New Mexico is home to five National Forests, Gila is one of the most diverse, with rugged canyons, desert landscapes, and mountain peaks all within its 3.3 million acres.
On our weekend getaway, we visited Catwalk Recreation Area, camped at Cosmic Campground, and stopped at Owl Creek Campground along the way. This itinerary gave us a taste of everything we love — hiking, camping, and exploring remote public lands. After this trip, we’re already planning our return to Gila National Forest.
Road Trip to New Mexico
We haven’t spent too much time in New Mexico even though the state border isn’t very far from the Phoenix area. However, after our weekend trip to Gila National Forest, we hope to be visiting more often. We have been to White Sands National Park and Carlsbad Cavern National Park, but never to one of New Mexico’s five National Forests.
After doing some researching on Google Maps we came across Catwalk Recreation Area in Gila National Forest. We realized it’s only 4.5 hours from Phoenix, and the keystone of our trip was put in place. We soon learned that Cosmic Campground wasn’t too far away and is an International Dark Sky Association campground, and our sights were set on where to camp Saturday night.
To break up our drive on Friday after work we camped at Owl Creek Campground in Gila Box Riparian National Recreation Area in Arizona. We visited this campground in 2024 and had a windy experience, but overall a beautiful trip that we detail in our blog post. The campground was going through some renovations in April 2025, but it should be finished within the coming months.
Gila National Forest
Within Gila National Forest you’ll find vast mountains, woodlands, creeks, canyons, and the winding Gila River. Compared to some of Arizona’s local forests like Tonto or Coconino, Gila is far less developed, which makes it feel even more wild and remote. Despite that, there are still endless opportunities for recreation.
The forest is also home to the Gila Wilderness, the first area in the world ever designated as official wilderness. Like many of the Southwest’s forests, the higher elevations are covered with ponderosa pines and junipers, while the lower elevations transition into chaparral and shrubland. In addition to the Gila River, the San Francisco River also carves through the forest, often lined by tall cottonwoods and sycamores. We came across many of these same beautiful trees in the creek-carved canyons we explored.
Catwalk Recreation Area, Gila National Forest
Quick Stats: Catwalk Trail
Length:
3 miles recorded
Route Type:
Out and back
Elevation Gain:
553 ft recorded
Vaulted Toilets:
Yes
Dog Friendly:
Yes, but not for small dogs
Fee:
Yes
Difficulty:
easy
Water:
No water at trailhead
On Saturday we got an early start and arrived at Catwalk Recreation Area before the crowds. By 8 a.m. local time there was just one person in the parking lot, and as he left with his dog we realized we had the entire canyon to ourselves. It was the perfect way to experience one of the most unique places in Gila National Forest.
The catwalk has a fascinating history. The original structure was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, following the pipes that miners had installed in the late 1800s to carry water for mining operations. Workers described walking on top of the pipes as being like a catwalk, which is how the name stuck. Later, in the 1960s, the Forest Service rebuilt it, but a devastating flood destroyed much of Whitewater Trail #207 and the structure. In 2016 the catwalk was refurbished and once again opened to the public.
Today the paved section of the catwalk extends about half a mile into Whitewater Canyon, making it an easy and accessible trail for all visitors. Beyond that, Whitewater Trail #207 continues for about five miles, with remnants of the flood-damaged sections still visible. We hiked roughly a mile past the end of the catwalk before turning around, for a total of three miles. The combination of history, scenery, and accessibility makes Catwalk Recreation Area a must-visit stop in Gila National Forest.
Mogollon Ghost Town
After finishing a quick Mountain House meal at the picnic area near Catwalk Recreation Area, we stopped in Glenwood for gas and then made our way into the Mogollon Mountains to visit Mogollon Ghost Town. Although the town is only about ten miles from the main highway, the road is narrow, twisting, and climbs steadily in elevation. The final five miles are especially slow, with just enough width for one vehicle at a time and occasional pullouts for passing.
When we visited in late April, most of the attractions were closed for the season, but we did find one shop open, Mogollon Woodworks. The owner welcomed us in, and we ended up buying a handmade wood puzzle while chatting about life in this quiet historic town. Today only about seventeen people live in Mogollon year-round, but when open, the town features a small museum, a historic theater, a café, and a couple of art studios.
Mogollon has endured tough times, including a devastating flood in 2012 that destroyed the road through town. Since then, the road has been rebuilt and flood management systems put in place. While we did not spend much time exploring during this trip, Mogollon Ghost Town offered a fascinating glimpse into New Mexico’s mining history and is worth visiting if you are already exploring Gila National Forest.
Cooney Canyon Trail, Gila National Forest
After exploring Mogollon, we drove to Mineral Creek to check out Cooney Canyon Trail #201 in Gila National Forest. By this point in the day we were a little tired and decided not to hike too far into the canyon. The trail here is far less developed than some of the other trails in the forest.
We hiked about three-quarters of a mile into the canyon before turning around, making our total distance about 1.5 miles. Even in that short distance, we were impressed by the peaceful atmosphere and the fascinating rock formations lining the canyon walls. If you are looking for a quieter spot away from the more popular areas of Gila National Forest, Cooney Canyon is a beautiful choice.
Camping at Cosmic Campground, Gila National Forest
Following our hike in Cooney Canyon we traveled a little further north to Cosmic Campground in Gila National Forest. We ended up not camping in the actual campground because we didn’t like any of the spots remaining. The only spots left were park and walk to a tent sight. And with our new roof top tent set up, that wasn’t really going to work for us. To get to the campground you take a dirt forest road, and that road continues past the campground. We took that road a short distance and after finding a good spot, we made camp within walking distance of Cosmic Campground. However, we had much more space between neighbors, just how we like it.
Cosmic Campground is an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. It is the first International Dark Sky Sanctuary located on National Forest System lands and also in North America. It is also one of only 14 certified IDA Sanctuaries. in the world. The nearest significant source of artificial light is more than 40 miles away, and across the state line in Arizona. – USDA FS
In order to respect your fellow stargazers, the Forest Service recommends:
- No parking on the observation/telescope pads
- No campfires on observation pads
- Use a red filter over your flashlight lens
- Try to arrive before dark so that your headlights won’t distort your night vision
- Quiet times (no generator use) between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
The campground does have vault toilets, telescope pads for stargazers, and a few drive in campsites. There is very limited shade and the area is vulnerable to high winds. The Forest Service says on their website they hope to add shade structures and upgrades when the funding becomes available.
Milky Way Dreams
We had hopes of seeing the Milky Way while camping in New Mexico. And once we realized that the Milky Way is best seen in the middle of night or very early in morning, we set our alarms for 3:30am. It was challenging to get up in the middle of the night but we are so happy we did so. We got some great shots on our iPhone and Canon camera, both using a tripod for stability. With our iPhones on a trip we were able to get the night mode feature to use a 30 second shutter, which really helps see vast amount of stars in the night sky.
Aldo Leopold Vista Picnic Area
We made a quick stop at Aldo Leopold Vista Picnic Area on our way home. We didn’t realize it before stopping, but Aldo Leopold is one of the founding fathers of the wilderness system we have today. He helped get Gila Wilderness recognized and protected as wilderness, the first in the US. Aldo was critical in shaping the US Forest Service and contributed a lot to Gila National Forest. At the vista there are informational signs about the forest and area as well as multiple picnic tables with shade.
Our Gear, How We Plan, & More
If you’re interest in the gear we bring our trips or hit the trails in we have a variety of posts:
Our Top Gear & Apparel Recommendations
Lauren’s Favorite Hiking Tanks
How to Pick the Best Hiking Boots
Hiking Pack Essentials
To get insight on how we plan our trips and what you should consider check out our post:
