Hidden within five caves in a narrow side canyon of the Gila River are structural remains left by people of the Mogollon culture more than 700 years ago. These stone and mortar dwellings, preserved at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument in New Mexico, are an enduring reminder of their resourceful community. The vast Gila Wilderness of southwestern New Mexico is the first such area to be set aside by Congress. Photos by the author.

New Mexico's 555,000-acre Gila Wilderness is a vast untrammeled patchwork of virtually unlimited forest types, climatic conditions, and wildlife.