The Gila and Blue Wilderness enchant visitors with their exceptionally beautiful and diverse landscape and magical silence. The area stretches from southwestern New Mexico to Arizona. Until recently, the 3.3 million-acre Gila National Park, with its deep canyons, beautiful views, untamed rivers, and wildlife, was a largely unknown treasure. In addition to horseback riding, the focus is on experiencing nature up close. You will learn about the animals, plants, and geology of this region. You will ride through the wild highlands of the Gila & Blue Wilderness. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to swim in clear mountain lakes and see little-known Apache settlements hidden in the rocks. The tour takes you along extraordinary cliffs and gorges to 1,000-year-old petroglyphs (pictorial representations carved into stone from prehistoric times) and ruins from the 18th century. You may also see and hear wild animals such as the Mexican gray wolf. You will be accompanied by a professional guide who is familiar with the history, flora, and fauna. Meals are prepared over a campfire.

Itinerary

Example

Before the tour: If you wish, you can arrive in Glenwood on Saturday. If available, you can stay overnight at the ranch (without meals).

Days 1-4: On Sunday, you will be picked up early in the morning from the guesthouse and breakfast will be served en route. At the trailhead, the pack horses will be loaded and you will set off into the wild highlands of the Gila or Blue Wilderness. Five days of horseback riding with overnight stays in tents await you in the heart of nature. Your guide knows many stories about this historic area and can provide you with information about the flora, fauna, and history of the region. You will see the birthplace of the famous chief Geronimo and little-known Apache settlements hidden in the rocks. The tour takes you along the most extraordinary cliffs and gorges to 1,000-year-old petroglyphs (pictorial and graphic representations carved into stone from prehistoric times) and the ruins of 18th-century settlements. You may also spot wild animals. With a little luck, you may hear and see the Mexican gray wolf. A true nature adventure!

Day 5: Arrival at the camp between 3 and 5 p.m. Then continue to Glenwood, which you will reach around 6-7 p.m.

Great Gila Loop

Day 1: Drive to base camp
We pack our equipment into the vehicles, have breakfast on the way and drive to the starting point of the hike. Then we saddle up, pack the mules and ride to the camp. We ride along Canyon Creek and enjoy the magnificent landscapes. The camp is located in a hidden, spring-fed canyon, the birthplace of Geronimo. Our comfortable camp has wall tents, camp beds, and everything you need to make your stay pleasant and warm. Elk and deer are abundant in the Gila, so we have plenty of opportunities to see elk grazing right next to our horses in the camp and on our riding trail.In the evening, we enjoy a delicious Dutch oven meal.Overnight stay at Base Camp #1

Day 2: Middle Fork Ride
Today we ride on the magnificent Middle Fork of the Gila River. There is no better wilderness experience in the world than a horseback ride along the Middle Fork. Many water crossings with towering and magnificent canyon walls await us. The canyon walls tower above us at every turn, and magnificent hoodoo pillars rise up at every point. Constantly flowing water provides cooling along the way. Overnight stay at base camp #1

Day 3: Indian Cliff Dwelling Ride
We ride upstream from our base camp to an Indian cliff dwelling. These dwellings are located in a canyon that few people visit. We make a short climb to the dwellings and visit the many dwellings that were left behind about 1000 years ago. After our visit, we ride back to camp. Overnight stay at base camp #1

Day 4: Ride to the second base camp
It's time to ride to our second camp. To get there, we climb out of the Middle Fork and enjoy breathtaking views of the canyon. Then we ride into higher alpine terrain and through meadows and ponderosa forests. At times, we have a good view of the Gila from a vantage point. Overnight stay at base camp #2

Day 5: Lilley Mountain round trip
We make a large loop around Lilley Mountain, stopping at springs and meadows along the way.
After a good climb, we have a panoramic view of the Gila Wilderness. This ride is one of the highlights of this trip.

Day 6:
We make our way back to the trailhead by taking a different route. We reach the trailhead around 3 p.m. and then drive 50 miles back to Reserve.

Accomodation
Overnight stay in rustic tent camps.

Saddle & Tack: Western.

Experience: At least basic knowledge. The tempo is easy, but you can expect 4-6 hours of riding every day.

Horses: Quarter, quarter mix, Arabian and other strong horses, which are all sure-footed and reliable.

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