Gila NF / Black Range

5,500–10,800 ft · NM🚗 Directions

Gila NF and Gila Wilderness. Southernmost major foraging zone in the Rockies. Ponderosa and mixed conifer. Summer monsoon triggers season. Remote and lightly foraged. Sky island ecology.

Permit Info →

Updated Apr 13, 6:43 PM

Foraging Potential35/100

✅Moisture

❌Soil Temp

❌No Freeze

✅No Drought

Precip 7d

0.30"

Precip 14d

0.45"

Soil Temp

28°F

SWE

Snow Water Equivalent — how much water is in the snowpack vs. normal. Declining SWE means snowmelt is adding moisture to the soil.

Drought

None

Snowmelt

steady

Limiting Factors

Soil too coldOutside season windowHard freeze in 48h

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Nearby Camping

Willow Creek Campground

developed

USFS~4 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

Gila NF Dispersed

dispersed

USFS7,200 ft~4 mi from centerFree/night

Dispersed camping on forest roads in the Black Range. Near Buck Fire burn area.

fire ring

Open Apr–Oct

Ben Lilly Campground

developed

USFS~4.2 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

Scorpion

developed

USFS6,800 ft~5 mi from center$10/night

12 sites

Gila NF on NM-15 toward the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Ponderosa and mixed conifer.

vault toiletfire ring

Open Apr–Oct

Snow Lake

developed

USFS~5.8 mi from center

Dipping Vat Campground

developed

USFS~5.8 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

Aeroplane Mesa Campground

developed

USFS~7.8 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

Upper End

developed

USFS5,700 ft~8 mi from center$8/night

4 sites

Along the Gila River near the wilderness boundary. Remote and quiet.

vault toiletfire ringpicnic table

Open Mar–Nov

South Fork Campground

developed

USFS~12.5 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

South Fork Negrito Campground

developed

USFS~12.6 mi from center

Elk Cemetary

backcountry

~12.9 mi from center

1 sites

Gwynn Tank Campground

developed

USFS~13 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

Upper Scorpion Campground

developed

USFS~18.6 mi from centerFree/night

10 sites

toilet

Reserve →

Lower Scorpion Campground

developed

USFS~18.8 mi from centerFree/night

7 sites

toilet

Reserve →

Bighorn Campground

developed

USFS~19.3 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

Wolf Hollow

backcountry

~20.9 mi from center

Wolf Hollow Campground

developed

USFS~21 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

Wolf Hollow Campground

dispersed

Gila National Forest~21.1 mi from centerFree/night

5 sites

Bell Canyon Pit

backcountry

~21.6 mi from center

Ghost Lake

backcountry

~22.3 mi from center

Gila Hot Springs Campground

developed

~22.6 mi from centerFee required/night

12 sites

watertoilet

Reserve →

Forks Campground

developed

USFS~22.9 mi from center

Gila National Forest

Grapevine Campground

developed

USFS~23.2 mi from centerFree/night

toilet

Reserve →

Cosmic Campground

developed

~23.3 mi from center

Reserve →

Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary

developed

USFS~23.3 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

Alum Camp

backcountry

~23.9 mi from center

Cottonwood Campground

developed

USFS~27.2 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

Pueblo Park Campground

developed

USFS~29.1 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

Pueblo Park Campground

developed

USFS~29.1 mi from center

Reserve →

Mesa Campground

developed

USFS~31.6 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

Lake Roberts

developed

USFS~31.8 mi from center

Black Canyon Campground - Lower

developed

USFS~31.9 mi from center

Gila National Forest

Black Canyon Campground - Lower

backcountry

USFS~32 mi from centerFree/night

Reserve →

Upper End Campground

developed

USFS~32 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

Black Canyon Campground - Upper

developed

USFS~32.1 mi from center

Gila National Forest

Pine Flats Campground

developed

~32.5 mi from center

Bill Evans

developed

State~33.3 mi from center

Apache Creek Campground

developed

USFS~33.4 mi from center

Gila National Forest

Coal Creek Campground

developed

USFS~34 mi from center

Coal Creek Campground

developed

USFS~34.1 mi from centerFee required/night

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

Reserve →

Sapillo Campground

developed

USFS~34.4 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

Sapillo Group Campground Road

developed

~34.5 mi from center

Sapillo Group Area Campground

developed

USFS~34.5 mi from centerFree/night

toilet

Reserve →

McMillan Campground

developed

USFS~35.2 mi from centerFree/night

3 sites

toilet

Reserve →

McMillan Campground

developed

USFS~35.2 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

Cherry Creek Campground

developed

USFS~35.5 mi from centerFree/night

12 sites

toilet

Reserve →

Cherry Creek Campground

developed

USFS~35.5 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

Rocky Canyon Campground

developed

USFS~35.5 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

Bear Track

developed

~35.7 mi from center

Black Jack Group Campground

developed

USFS~36.6 mi from center

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

Reserve →

Black Jack Campground

dispersed

USFS~36.7 mi from centerFree/night

Black Jack Campground

developed

USFS~36.7 mi from centerFee required/night

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

Reserve →

Black Jack Group Campground

developed

~36.8 mi from center

Roadrunner Trailer Park

developed

~42.3 mi from center

Clifton Ranger District

developed

USFS~47.9 mi from center

Valle Tio Vinces Campground

developed

USFS~48.6 mi from centerFee required/night

Gila National Forest

Reserve →

⚠ Road Access Notice

Always verify road access is public before following GPS directions to mountain areas. Many forest roads are seasonal, gated, or require 4WD. Dispersed camping follows USFS/BLM rules (typically 14-day limit). Check ranger district offices for current road and campground conditions.