This page was last updated on Monday, September 2, 2013 at 4 pm MDT
Since conditions can change rapidly, please call the Gila Visitor Center at 575-536-9461 for the latest information and current conditions.
Be advised that the "monsoon" (or rainy) season is still here and afternoon and evening thunderstorms are likely to occur. Visitors arriving before noon are more likely to avoid thunderstorm activity. The trail to and from the cliff dwellings is temporarily closed when nearby lightning or potential flash flooding poses a threat to visitors and staff. On many afternoons, it is not possible to reopen the trail due to the hazards associated with nearby lightning. Guided tours may be cancelled. Be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions. Be prepared to take shelter if lightning is nearby. The safest place to take shelter is within a building or within a vehicle with the doors and windows closed. For your safety when visiting the monument, please follow the instructions of park staff. For more information about lightning safety, visit www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov.
For the latest weather forecast and area alerts, visit forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=33.22777502404423&lon=-108.26820373535156&site=abq&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text.
Fire Safety: Fires and smoking are never permitted within Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. For current information on closures in the Gila National Forest and any fire restrictions, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/gila. Extreme caution is advised when visiting areas affected by recent wildfires. Numerous hazards exist.
For more information about area fires, burned area emergency response, and forest closures, please visit: www.fs.usda.gov/gila and www.inciweb.org or www.inciweb.nwcg.gov. You may also call the Wilderness Ranger District of the Gila National Forest at 575-536-2250.
