Ranger Sarah walks through Cave #3. The black on the ceiling is a heavy layer of soot from fires that were used for warmth and cooking for thousands of years.
— at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Ranger Sarah climbs the steps to enter the dwellings in Cave #3. While most the rooms where build in the 1280's, Heavy soot on the ceiling & artifacts found show these caves were likely used for thousands of years
— at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Ranger Sarah at Cave #2. It is hard to see at this angle but their is a T-shaped doorway. To reach the door it is thought a ladder was used to get on a wooden balcony that supported by the wood beams you can see in the wall.
— at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Ranger Sarah reaches cave #1. This large space that now looks open was likely an enclosed living space, and the fire pit represents the cooking area. The foundation of a small room was likely used for storage.
— at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Ranger Sarah hikes closer the the cliff dwellings. The cliff dwellings are built in shallow caves that formed at about the same stratigraphic level along weak (somewhat less cemented) zones within the Gila Conglomerate.
— at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Ranger Sarah takes the turn along the trail towards the Gila Cliff Dwellings.
— at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Ranger Sarah approaches another bridge as she hikes the trail to the Gila Cliff Dwellings.
— at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Snakes! Ranger Sarah will be staying on the trail, she doesn't want to be surprised by any snakes.
— at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Ranger Sarah climbs up towards the Cliff Dwellings as she has left Cliff Dweller Creek
— at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Ranger Sarah starts the climb out of the canyon towards the cliff dwellings.
— at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

As Ranger Sarah sets to cross another bridge over Cliff Dweller Creek, she spots one more in the distance.
— at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Ranger Sarah heads up the trail through the canyon carved out by Cliff Dweller Creek.
— at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Ranger Sarah make the turn on the trail to start the climb to the Cliff Dwellings.
— at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Ranger Sarah crosses over Cliff Dweller Creek as she starts heading up Cliff Dweller Canyon.
— at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Ranger Sarah learns of the natural forces that created the canyon she is hiking up.
— at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Ranger Sarah crosses the bridge over the West Fort Gila River as she starts the trail up Cliff Dweller Canyon to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. The self-guided 1 mile loop trail climbs 175 feet from the canyon bottom to the cave area.
— at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Ranger Sarah checks out the hoodoos as the evening light hit the tops.
— at Chiricahua National Monument.

Ranger Sarah with one last view of the vast amount of welded tuff towers covering the mountains.
— at Chiricahua National Monument.

Ranger Sarah spots a lizard on the rocks, it is the same color as the rock. It is possibly the Yarrow's Spiny Lizard, or Mountain Spiny Lizard
— at Chiricahua National Monument.