Gila Cliff Dwelling

Monday, February 2, 2015
Our drive to Gila Cliff Dwellings was close to a 2 hour drive. We drove about 40 kms an hour, on average, along a winding, narrow road with many changes in elevation. *Gila is pronounced "Heela".

                                      Higher elevation means it is cold enough for snow to form!

                                              Geronimo's monument at the visitor's center

These quotes are from the visitor's center:

The following photos are from the welcome center at the Gila Cliff Dwellings trailhead.

These photos are from our hike to the Gila Cliff Dwellings:

        The black ceilings are from fires when the Mogollons inhabited these dwellings.

The Mogollan people lived in these cliff dwellings from the late 1270's to 1300. The Mogollans eventually merged with other tribes. They are not related to the Ancient Puebloans. 
http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/cultural_diversity/gila_cliff_dwellings_national_monument.html

                                                  view below from the cliff dwelling

Then we walked another trail to view some pictographs made by the Mogollon people.