By Melissa Green
Former Forest Service Trail Crew Member and current CDTC Volunteer
Until now, the CDT alternate in the Gila Wilderness has had two trail options: the “river route” and the “high route.” Now, CDTC is adding two more trails to the Gila Wilderness alternates, improving safety and reducing overuse. The two new trails connect the river route to the high route: one is #28, the Big Bear Trail, and the other is #730, the Coop Mesa/ Garcia Springs Trail.
Where are the connector trails? Check out the interactive map here.
Why add more trails?
- It improves safety: If you are on the 30+ mile river trail, which makes for slow traveling due to all the river crossings, and the weather becomes very cold or the river starts flooding, you may want a way to exit the river bottom. (These are both common occurrences during the dates that CDT through-hikers travel the Gila Wilderness). Alternately, if you run out of water during a dry year on the high route, you may want to take one of these trails down to the river route.
- It disperses use: A well-dispersed trail system prevents overuse issues and damage to the natural resources. The connector trails provide options to avoid high use and/or overused areas. The most heavily used area in the Gila Wilderness is the Little Bear trail #729 to Jordan Warm Springs on the Middle Fork. This is a part of the CDT river route and a part of a popular backpacking loop. You can avoid this section by starting on the CDT high route and then using one of the connector trails to hike down to the river upstream of Jordan Warm Springs. Taking this route helps protect the area and maintain the resource for sustainable shared use.
Worried about missing out if you bypass this section? The high-use trail to Jordan Warm Springs is not necessarily the most beautiful option! In terms of beauty and grandeur, my favorite section of the Middle Fork is between the Meadows (Middle Fork Trail junction with #28) and the Middle Fork Trail junction with Coop Mesa / Garcia Springs Trail #730. (On the map above, it is between the two red connector trails).
“But I miss the warm springs!” — Warm springs are a treat, but this area also has multiple hot springs to consider, such as the privately-owned hot springs at the Gila Hot Springs Campground in the resupply town of Gila Hot Springs. They are CDT hiker-friendly, with clean pools and a well-kept campground. There are adequate facilities to accommodate the use without damaging the natural environment. This contrasts with the steep canyon walls at Jordan Warm Springs and overuse that can cause excess feces and trash in the river corridor. With these in mind, I recommend stopping at the private hot springs during your resupply and skipping the Jordan Warm Springs.
About the connector trails: A “connector trail” might sound unimpressive and just an efficient way from one place to another. However, these trails offer beautiful views and are worth hiking just to see the terrain they travel through!
Understanding the Gila
I worked on the Forest Service Gila Wilderness trail crew for over a decade. When funding disappeared, I helped create a trails program, which organizes volunteer trail projects and provides trail information in the Gila. I work with Gila Back Country Horsemen, who have been doing volunteer trail work for over 17 years.
The trail projects, which benefit all trail users, and Gila Trails Info website aim to disperse trail use and to increase user safety and enjoyment of the Gila. There are so many places in the Gila that are beautiful and have water. There is no need to over stress one area!
We organize a trail projects with the CDTC in the Gila Wilderness. Check out this year’s project in March on the CDTC website. To receive info on other Gila volunteer trail projects or plan a trip in the Gila, check out gilatrailsinfo.org.
Melissa Green has spent many years in the Gila Wilderness including working on the Forest Service Wilderness Trail Crew for a decade. She now leads volunteer trail projects for the Gila Back Country Horsemen in the Gila Region. She has spent much of the past 20 years working in the outdoor industry including leading 3-week backpacking trips for at-risk-youth in Oregon. In her free time, she does trail work in the Gila Wilderness, hikes and runs, works in her garden and does building projects. She is passionate about the Gila Trails and keeping them open for people to find rejuvenation in nature. To this end, she created the Gila Trails Info website which provides updated trail information for visitors and locals.
