Gila Hikers is a group of friends who organize regular hikes and other outdoor adventures in the Gila National Forest, the Gila Wilderness and beyond. The group is SMALL — about 20-30 members — and we intend to keep it that way.
We have a strong focus on safety and sociability, so we hike as a group, at the pace of the slowest person. Most trips are of moderate difficulty, with an average length of 3-8 miles and 500-2000′ of elevation gain/loss. Our average hiking speed varies from 1.5 to 2.5 mph, depending on slope and trail conditions. We hike year ’round, varying the hiking destinations based on elevation and forest cover as the seasons change.
We are open to hikers of all ages. Our current membership ranges from 40 to 76 years of age.
Gila Hikers is for active hikers who live in Grant County, New Mexico, who like to hike with a group of friends. It’s not a good choice for solo hikers, speed hikers or someone who is just looking for “hiking ideas”.
Membership is free, but we will ask you a few questions to make sure this group is a good fit for you!
Our History
Gila Hikers started in 2019 as a Facebook group, and transitioned to a Meetup group in 2021. We have offered weekly hikes every since, with a typical hike ranging from six to a dozen participants. Frustrated with low group participation by the Facebook group, and with the high cost and poor communication tools on Meetup, we are in the process transitioning to a simple website that uses a Google group and Google RSVP forms to communicate.
The No Dog Rule
Sorry about that! We love dogs, but in 30+ years of organizing hiking and backpacking trips, we’ve had too many issues with aggressive dogs, dog fights, wildlife predation, and owners who don’t follow the rules. Please leave your dog at home.
