Lower Gila Box
November 21, 2023
We've returned to this area many times since stumbling upon it during an exploration of the Lower Middle Box WSA in 2019.
![group photo](https://www.desertlavender.com/new-mexico/southern-new-mexico/gila-lower-box/IMG_8647.webp)
Returning with our new Silver-City-based hiking group, the #GilaHikers.
![navigating some white volcanic tuff](https://www.desertlavender.com/new-mexico/southern-new-mexico/gila-lower-box/P1000841.webp)
The trail is mostly a gentle walk, with some interesting scrambling over rounded white tuff at the top of the canyon.
![Jane hopping over the rocks](https://www.desertlavender.com/new-mexico/southern-new-mexico/gila-lower-box/P1000846.webp)
![group photo](https://www.desertlavender.com/new-mexico/southern-new-mexico/gila-lower-box/P1000849.webp)
This area is full of bedrock mortars. We always take a moment to imagine a group of Mimbres women, sitting by the river, grinding corn and telling stories.
![the group near a cluster of bedrock mortars](https://www.desertlavender.com/new-mexico/southern-new-mexico/gila-lower-box/P1000857.webp)
Farther down the canyon the white tuff gives way to rhyolite.
![trio of hikers in the canyon](https://www.desertlavender.com/new-mexico/southern-new-mexico/gila-lower-box/P1000860.webp)
The giant cottonwoods emerge as we approach the Gila River.
![giant cottonwoods](https://www.desertlavender.com/new-mexico/southern-new-mexico/gila-lower-box/P1000864.webp)
![distant view of hikers in the canyon](https://www.desertlavender.com/new-mexico/southern-new-mexico/gila-lower-box/IMGP0862.webp)
![Dennis on a giant boulder in the canyon](https://www.desertlavender.com/new-mexico/southern-new-mexico/gila-lower-box/P1000890.webp)
![hikers near steep canyon wall](https://www.desertlavender.com/new-mexico/southern-new-mexico/gila-lower-box/P1000873.webp)
The walls rise higher and higher, until some sections are almost tunnel-like.
![mouth of the canyon](https://www.desertlavender.com/new-mexico/southern-new-mexico/gila-lower-box/P1000886.webp)
At the river.
![interesting rock formations](https://www.desertlavender.com/new-mexico/southern-new-mexico/gila-lower-box/P1000893.webp)
Cinnamon-swirl rock formations.
![hikers coming back up throught the white rocks](https://www.desertlavender.com/new-mexico/southern-new-mexico/gila-lower-box/P1000896.webp)
Heading out.