Tanks
- 1.2 mi
- round trip
- 211 ft
- climb
- 7,435 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr–May, Aug–Oct
- best months
Is Tanks open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Gila National Forest. It doesn't name Tanks, so check the source for the area it covers.
Beaverhead Water Non-Potable
Agency closure covering Gila National Forest · USFS · Gila National Forest
Harmful algae detected in Lake Roberts
Agency alert covering Gila National Forest · USFS · Gila National Forest
Potentially Dangerous Animal Encounters
Agency alert covering Gila National Forest · USFS · Gila National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Gila National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Tanks is an easy out-and-back hike in the Gila Wilderness, part of the Wilderness Ranger District of Gila National Forest in New Mexico. The route is about 1.2 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 211 feet, and it starts and ends at roughly 7,200 feet, reaching a high point of about 7,435 feet. The trail is on natural surface, and it is open year round. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. The route is not accessible. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Winston, which sits about 1,200 feet lower, run to highs around 71°F in April and October, while July and August bring the most wet days, about nine and ten. Cassidy Trail #25 is about 0.4 miles away, and White Rocks Trail is about 1.8 miles off. For an overnight stay, Wolf Hollow Campground is about 7.7 miles away. The Middle Fork Gila River, about 4.7 miles away, offers canoeing.
Local outfitters
- Silver City RV Park38 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Cassidy Trail #25Hiking0.4 mi
- White Rocks TrailHiking1.8 mi
- CassidyHiking2.3 mi
- Sam Martin Trail #23Hiking3.3 mi
Middle Fork Gila RiverCanoeingPhoto: Joe Burgess, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)4.7 mi
West Fork Gila RiverCanoeingPhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)7.5 mi- Wolf Hollow CampgroundCamping7.7 mi
- East Fork Gila RiverCanoeing9.1 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Lilley ParkHiking · ~9 min drivePhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Ee CanyonHiking · ~11 min drivePhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Grand Enchantment TrailHiking · ~12 min drivePhoto: cm195902, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Green Fly Trail #26Hiking · ~6 min drive
- Big Bear Canyon Trail #28Hiking · ~10 min drivePhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Little Bear Canyon Trail #729Hiking · ~12 min drivePhoto: cm195902, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- West Fork ShortcutHiking · ~12 min drivePhoto: cm195902, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- White Rocks TrailHiking · ~3 min drive
- Cassidy Trail #25Hiking · Next door
- Grand Enchantment TrailHiking · ~12 min drivePhoto: cm195902, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Best time to visit Tanks
Best months: April–May and August–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
53° / 20°
2 wet · 1 snow
Feb
57° / 23°
2 wet · 1 snow
Mar
64° / 27°
2 wet
Apr
71° / 34°
1 wet
May
79° / 41°
2 wet
Jun
89° / 50°
4 wet
Jul
87° / 56°
9 wet
Aug
84° / 54°
10 wet
Sep
79° / 47°
6 wet
Oct
71° / 35°
3 wet
Nov
60° / 25°
2 wet
Dec
52° / 19°
3 wet · 1 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Winston, NM, 35.9 mi away at 6,196 ft. The station sits about 1,200 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
