The Gila Wilderness: The Historic Catwalk
Tucked deep within New Mexico’s rugged wilderness, the Gila Cliff Dwellings and the Catwalk National Historical Trail offer a window into both ancient human ingenuity and dramatic geologic history. The cliff dwellings, built by the Mogollon people over 700 years ago, are nestled in caves formed within volcanic tuff, the solidified ash and lavas of massive eruptions from the nearby Mogollon-Datil volcanic field.
The Mogollon-Datil volcanic field is a cluster of calderas that were active about 40-24 million years ago. The Catwalk National Recreation Trail in the Gila National Forest of southwestern New Mexico is a fantastic way to peak “inside” the materials erupted from these many calderas. The Catwalk wends its way through Whitewater Canyon. The walls of the canyon are made of the Cooney Tuff, which erupted and cooled about 35 million years ago. The area has since been eroded, forming the Whitewater Canyon.
The Catwalk clings to the steep canyon walls. (Image by Ivy C.)
The Catwalk National Recreation Trail in New Mexico's Gila National Forest offers a fascinating glimpse into the region's mining and engineering history. In the late 19th century, the discovery of gold and silver in the Gila Mountains led to the establishment of several mines, including the Confidence, Blackbird, Redbird, and Bluebird mines.
To process the extracted ore, John T. Graham constructed a mill in 1893 at the mouth of Whitewater Canyon, giving rise to the town of Graham. Due to the canyon's rugged terrain, transporting water to the mill posed a significant challenge. The solution was a three-mile-long, four-inch steel pipeline that clung to the canyon walls, supplying water for ore processing and electricity generation. A narrow wooden walkway was built atop this pipeline for maintenance access, which miners navigated with cat-like agility— hence the name "Catwalk."
The Catwalk, above Whitewater Creek. Cooney Tuff forms the canyon walls. Image by Ivy C.
After the mill ceased operations in 1913, the area remained largely untouched until the 1930s, when the Civilian Conservation Corps transformed the decaying pipeline route into a recreational trail. Over the years, the trail has been updated, with metal grating replacing the original wooden planks in the 1960s. The latest significant update follows a season of spectacular flooding in Whitewater Canyon in 2012.
Today, visitors can traverse this historic path, suspended above Whitewater Creek, and witness remnants of the original pipeline and support structures embedded in the canyon walls, as well as noting the variably welded (how stuck together and solid the rock is) tuff and pumice deposits.
If you are looking to visit the incredible Gila Cliff Dwellings and enjoy the Catwalk, please note that the Catwalk Recreation Area is a day-use area and is open from sunrise to sunset. A parking fee of $3.00 per vehicle is paid at a self-pay station in the parking lot. Camping is available elsewhere in the Glenwood area.
