Best Camping in and near Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

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ESCAPE to the L.C. Ranch , Gila NM

7 sites · RVs8 acres · Gila, NM

The Historic L.C. Ranch can accommodate up to 5 RVs with full hookups & WiFi, including 3 sites with 50 amp electrical service, We are not accepting tent or car campers at this time of year. The L.C. Ranch was the second largest Cattle Ranch in American history. In its heyday around 1900 it was over one million acres. Today the cows are gone, along with the vast tracts of land and the cowboys that managed the herds. The Lyons and Campbell Ranch Headquarters remains as a time capsule of an era past. The extensive adobe compound includes the 27 room adobe mansion of Cattle Baron Tom Lyons and his wife Ida Campbell, along with the fabulous Old West Saloon, Jail, post office, bunkhouses, Theater and Chapel. In the summer months enjoy the great swimming pool, and in the spring and fall enjoy the Mimbres design hot tub. Our RV sites are closed in the winter, but our Airbnb apartments are closed in January only. The Theater has just added a video cinema system to its live performance capabilities. Think "movie night". There is a lot of history here, and for just $10/person you can take the 2 hour tour of the historic grounds. The L.C. Ranch is located in the tiny village of Gila, just 30 minutes from Silver City, right off U.S. 180 on NM Hwy 211. Learn more about this land: Near Silver City, New Mexico, the Historic Lyons & Campbell ranch is in the tiny village of Gila in the lush Gila river valley in the otherwise arid Mountain Southwest. Dog Friendly! (Cats? Not so much, better keep them inside your RV at all times). This massive 60 room adobe compound dates from 1810, is one of the oldest houses in the southwest and was a million acre ranch, the second largest in America back in its heyday from 1880 to 1920, and includes a museum, theater, Old west Saloon, Chapel, jail and two apartments "Inn at the L.C. Ranch" in Gila, NM, available for short term rental on a!rbnb. 5 RV spots with full hookups, AND Wi-Fi. 20 or 30 amp, are $40 per night for up to 2 people. 50 amp for $50 per night. Additional guests are $10 per night, and up to 6 people per site. Hook ups include sewer, electric, WiFi and water connections, and access to the swimming pool, Hot tub, Old west Saloon and Gallery. Two night minimum. Swimming pool is open May thru September, Hot tub is currently off-line due to rennovations. NO FIREWORKS! Please! We are relaxing our fire ban to allow charcoal or gas BBQs, and fully screened portable fire pits, if it is NOT windy. We do not supply these. There is plenty of firewood here, but you will have to cut/break it to usable size. Please be careful. The authentic old west Saloon, Historic Main House, Theater, Gallery, Jail are all available to tour, and for workshops, retreats, Weddings, groups etc. The two hour guided tour of the museum in the main house, the "adobe mansion" of Cattle Baron Tom Lyons, is $10 per person for RV guests. The swimming pool and Lanai are located near the Sunset Site, RV Site #3. It will handle any size rig, 65'+, 20/30/50 amp. Big fifth wheels, Class A or C Motorhomes, no problem. It is our only pull through site. The Lanai by the pool has BBQ, pizza oven, sink, refrigerator, music, games, croquet, darts... Site for Sore Eyes, #4, is a smaller site with 20/30 amp electrical service. It is a "back in" site suitable for Class C, CamperVans, and smaller travel trailers. The other two RV spots are a short walk away, about 150 feet. Site #2, Gemini Site is good for up to 65', pull in, perfect for any size Motorhome or big rig, 20/30/30/20 amp with a unique double rig pedestal that allows a second 30 amp rig to hook up at your descretion. It also has its own shaded picnic area and picnic table. 4" sewer connection. Site #1 has a full tree canopy over head, perfect for Class C or Travel trailers. "Back in" site, 20/30/50 amp, water, 4" sewer and wi-fi. The Mimbres design hot tub is located in the bath house between the two RV locations. It is wood-fired and available on request. (currently off-line due to rennovations) It takes all day to heat it up and it is NOT recommended on windy or freezing nights as it is quite exposed. There is also a bathroom with flush toilet at the pool, along with fridge, BBQ, Wood fired pizza oven, misters and bar in the Lanai, and a guest laundry with an indoor shower nearby in the Spanish courtyard. There are additional bathrooms in the Saloon and the Theater. Karaoke at night in the old west Saloon used to be a regular occurrence on weekends before covid, let's see if we can get that going again this summer. The Saloon is equipped for live music as well, with guitar and bass amps, P.A. and electronic drum kit. The Saloon as well as the entire property is BYOB. The Saloon is not open to the public and has no liquor license. We like it this way. Wi-fi is available at all our RV sites, and is best in the Saloon and Gallery. We have just installed new Wi-Fi extenders. Cell phone service is sketchy, some people with Verizon or T-Mobile get service. It's best on the observation mound. Discounts for longer stays...

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Apache RV Park with Tent sites

5 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Reserve, NM

Learn more about this land:Apache RV Park is a quiet and spacious RV Park with beautiful Mountain View’s in Gila National Forest. We have full hookups, clean bathrooms with showers, Wi-Fi, Laundromat, propane, tent sites, horseshoe pit and country hospitality. Our lots are extra wide with plenty of space for your trailer and any extra vehicles. You can cuddle up close to a loved one with our newly renovated fire pit and spend some quality time reconnecting with nature. Paint the nearby village of Reserve red by stopping by the local watering hole and eating some great New Mexico cuisine. There is close access to local trail heads, side by side trails, Gila National Forest, Petroglyphs, historic ruins and the continental divide trail. We are your home away from home for hunting, rock hounding, fishing and hiking adventures. As always your furry friend is always welcome to stay with us.

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Behr Art

6 sites · Lodging2 acres · Glenwood, NM

I am a working artist of many mediums; ceramics, copper, painting, collage, et al and proprietor of Behr Art Gallery & Gifts. Alongside this work, I design spaces and events, host workshops, markets, annual festivals, officiate weddings, and make my ever-morphing property available for others to share and enjoy. To that, I've spent nearly every day designing, decorating, reconstructing, reconfiguring and reworking this historic property, farm and gardens. The structures I've built and designed that are available for your retreat include the CABIN, the LOTUS, the POND HUT and the TREE HOUSE.The Cabin was once a bunkhouse. The previous owners moved it (rolled it on logs) to its present location. In doing so, the floor joists needed to be reattached and a foundation was constructed to stabilize the building. My brother and I cut, fitted, mudded, tied, nailed, plumbed, electrified and created a marvelous space. This is otherwise a working art studio, organic farm and orchard, with ponds, shade trees, peace, quiet and some of the darkest skies for star gazing in the nation.My backstory:A Connecticut native, I moved to Silver City/Pinos Altos New Mexico in 1970 and then to Glenwood in 1982. For twenty-two of those years, I lived on a ranch with a herd of horses and two donkeys, and my passion was endurance riding. After thousands of training hours, competitive miles, and sponsoring the Scorpion Sting Endurance Ride, I gave it up for the life I now live on this land.

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Silver City above San Vicente Creek

2 sites · RVs2 acres · Silver City, NM

Learn more about this land:Looking for a place to park your rig while checking out Silver City, gateway to the Gila Wilderness? Park at Perk! Located conveniently on the outskirts of town, the park borders the San Vicente creek open space with hiking and biking trails that lead downtown through a beautiful riparian area. Overlooking the expanse, our sites are level and easy to access from town. Each site has easy access to WiFi, water and electric, and with a little creativity, even sewer hookups! This is not your typical RV park, with limited sites and no onsite bathroom, it's a diamond in the rough!

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Casita on Sapillo Creek Escape

4 sites · Lodging20 acres · Lake Roberts, NM

Sapillo Creek Escape is a truly unique gem in the Gila Wilderness. It sits at 6,000 feet above sea level, was custom designed and built by the creator of the Bear Creek Motel and Lodge in Piños Altos, and took 7 years to construct. Everything from the saltillo tiles to the wood latilla ceilings are custom built and exquisitely hand-laid. With over 3,000 square feet in the home at your disposal, this place is made for just you, or you and your family and friends, to enjoy the Gila Wilderness, Silver City, and Grant County. Fishing, birding, biking, hiking, horseback riding and more await you in the Gila, with dining, arts, culture and more in Silver City. The Casita at Sapillo Creek Escape sits on 20 acres, so camping is welcome. Pets are permitted with prior review and approval. All pets must be friendly and get along with other pets, and must be fully vaccinated (proof of vaccinations is required, especially rabies, parvo virus and kennel cough). We purchased Sapillo Creek Escape in early 2019. We are thrilled and honored to own it, and be the caretakers of this gem, which was so dear to the owner’s heart.Welcome to our home! Tommy & Jennifer

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Camp Xantara

1 site · RV3 acres · Mimbres, NM

Xantara overlooks the Mimbres valley and river with an expansive view. There is a Bakery close by that is open for breakfast Tue - Sat and a museum that is open on weekends. Gila Hot springs, cliff dwellings, wilderness, petroglyphs and pictographs are 1/2 - 2 hrs. north on hwy. 35. Silver City is 1/2 hr. away with a variety of restaurants, galleries, coffee shops and museums. City of Rocks state park is to the south. Site has water, electric, trash and recycling.

The best camping near Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument guide

Overview

About

About 45 miles from civilization, there's a narrow canyon above the Gila River with one of the most remote cliff dwellings on Earth. It takes two hours just to drive here. No wonder the Tularosa Mogollon people loved this place. Instead of using the cliffs as a place to take shelter on a migratory route, some families decided to make this rocky place their home.

The Gila Cliff Dwellings offer a chance to explore what life was like in the American Southwest before European settlers usurped the local people. Archaeologists believe around eight to 10 families lived here for about 20 years in the late 1200s. The remote location and the rocky cliffs protected them from the weather, wildlife, and other humans. In much the same way, you can take shelter from the warm summer sunshine.

The 1-mile loop trail is an easy walk to reach the ruins. It's actually a longer drive to get here than it is a walk to find the cliff dwellings. Once there, you get a sense of wonderment. How did these people live here? What did they do for food? Why did they leave after just 20 years? For some, these cliff houses were home sweet home. The peaceful river valley below offers some clues. Families who resided here depended on the river for creating fertile ground for crops, fishing, and hunting.

This place is open year-round during the day. Nights can be chilly if you make a weekend out of it and explore the surrounding wilderness and camp for a weekend. Nearby campsites make it easy to visit this wilderness area.