Trans-America Trail — Silver City to Reserve via the Mogollon Mountains High Divide
Mogollon ghosts, Gila pines, zero cell service.
This segment of Sam Correro’s Trans-America Trail runs northeast from Silver City through the Gila National Forest, climbing into the Mogollon Mountains via forest roads before dropping through the old silver-mining ghost town of Mogollon — a cluster of crumbling adobes clinging to a canyon wall at the end of a switchback shelf road that’ll make your palms sweat. From there the route crosses the Continental Divide on dirt tracks through ponderosa pine country before reaching Reserve on the San Francisco River. The driving is relentless mix of rocky two-track, loose shale switchbacks, and occasional creek crossings through the Gila Wilderness buffer zone. Pines Creek and the Gila River corridor are the two spots where water becomes a genuine factor.
This is TAT proper — built for dual-sport motorcycles but runnable in a capable 4WD if you know what you’re doing. Ground clearance, a skid plate, and patience on the shelf roads above Mogollon are mandatory. There is no fuel between Silver City and Reserve, roughly 140 miles — plan accordingly. Cell service vanishes past the city limits and doesn’t return until Reserve. Best season is May through October; winter closes the high elevation roads. The payoff is Gila country the way it actually looks — not the highway version. Dispersed camping throughout the national forest.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Overland Route, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Rock |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 140 mi / 225 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 8900 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with skid plates |
| Nearest town | Silver City, NM |
| Land manager | USDA Forest Service — Gila National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Gila National Forest — USFS Trans-America Trail Official Site |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lifted Tacoma or stock 4Runner run this section of the TAT?
A stock 4Runner will struggle — this segment needs genuine high-clearance 4WD, skid plates, and ideally a locker or two. Rocky shelf roads and off-camber ledges near the High Divide punish unprotected undercarriages. A lifted Tacoma with skids is closer to the minimum, not the sweet spot.
When does the Mogollon Mountains section typically open after winter, and are monsoons a real concern?
May through October is the reliable window — snow closes the high-elevation roads well into spring some years, so call the Gila National Forest before heading out before June. New Mexico monsoon season (July–September) brings afternoon flash flooding; creek crossings that look tame in the morning can turn dangerous by 3pm.
Do you need a permit to run this route through Gila National Forest?
No permit is required for vehicle travel on the route itself. Dispersed camping is free and allowed within Gila National Forest under standard USFS rules — 14-day stay limit, 300 feet from water sources. No fees at the trailheads.
What's the hardest section and what makes it genuinely technical?
The High Divide corridor between Mogollon and the upper Gila drainages is the crux — narrow shelf roads with significant exposure, loose rock, and no guardrails. Passing another vehicle in places requires one of you to back up a long way. It's not a winch-fest, but one bad line or a moment of inattention has consequences.
How far is it between fuel stops, and is there anything at Mogollon mid-route?
Fuel up in Silver City before you leave — it's 140 miles to Reserve with nothing in between that sells gas. Mogollon is a genuine ghost town with no services, just historic buildings worth a walk-around. Carry at minimum a 50-mile fuel buffer beyond your tank range and plan on Reserve for your next fill.
Trail track
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