Gila National Forest
Dispersed camping is generally allowed
On national forest and grassland, camping outside developed campgrounds is generally permitted unless an area is posted closed or a local order says otherwise. Stay on existing surfaces, camp away from water and trailheads, and check the forest's current orders before you go — fire restrictions change through the season.
Rules change with fire season and local order. Checked 2026-08-05. Confirm on the managing office’s official page
- Area
- 5,296 sq mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
- Campgrounds
- 32
- Longest rig
- Not published
Where the land is, and what fits
The official Forest Service boundary with every campground we hold inside it. Tell it how long your rig is and the map keeps only what takes it — public land rarely matches the shape people picture, and neither does what you can actually get into.
Official unit boundary · USDA Forest Service · 32 campgrounds shown
- Aeroplane Mesa CampgroundAll year · First-come, first-served
- Apache Creek CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Armijo Springs CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Ben Lilly CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Bighorn CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Black Canyon Campground - LowerFirst-come, first-served
- Black Canyon Campground - UpperFirst-come, first-served
- Cherry Creek CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky SanctuaryYear round · First-come, first-served
- Cottonwood CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Dipping Vat CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- El Caso I-IV CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- El Caso V CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Forks CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Gallinas Campground - UpperFirst-come, first-served
- Gwynn Tank CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Head of the Ditch CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Iron Creek CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Juniper CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Kingston CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- McMillan CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Mesa CampgroundMarch 18 · First-come, first-served
- Piñon CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Pueblo Park CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Railroad Canyon CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Rocky Canyon CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Sapillo CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- South Fork CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Upper End CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Valle Tio Vinces CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Willow Creek CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Wolf Hollow CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
Gila National Forest
The Gila National Forest is a United States national forest in New Mexico. Established in 1905, it now covers approximately 2,710,659 acres (10,969.65 km2), making it the sixth largest national forest in the continental United States. The Forest administration also manage the part of the Apache National Forest in New Mexico which covers 614,202 acres for a total of 3.3 million acres managed by the Gila National Forest. Within the forest, the Gila Wilderness was established in 1924 as the US's first designated wilderness. The Aldo Leopold Wilderness and Blue Range Wilderness are also found within its borders. The Blue Range Primitive Area lies within Arizona in the neighboring Apache National Forest.
Extract from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA. Agency description not published.
No vehicles past these lines
Designated wilderness is closed to every wheeled vehicle, including bicycles. You can walk in and camp; you cannot drive or park a rig inside one.
- Gila Wilderness559,528 acres
- Aldo Leopold Wilderness203,559 acres
- Blue Range Wilderness29,106 acres
Byways through this country
Places worth pulling over
Drive to Gila the long way
Byway plans the road in, not just the destination — real places along the way, weighted to what you like, with nothing invented.