We were able to spend a few days last week on the western edge of the Gila National Forest, just inside of New Mexico along the Arizona border. 

Cottonwood Creek - about 20 miles north of Glenwood, NM

In the Apache National Forest - 

A fireplace and chimney from a long gone cabin, with a pink teddy bear, a bouquet of dead flowers, and a couple of smaller toys in it. 

And several Acorn Woodpeckers

A long abandoned bridge, overgrown by bare cottonwoods, on the San Francisco River.

On the road to Mogollon - 

Mogollon was once the center of activities for a cluster of gold and silver mines. It is now a tourist ghost town along a terrifying, one lane, winding mountain road. 

Mountains and ranches along the way to Mogollon.

The old entrance gate for the village of Mogollon - and then the village.  

And then, we moved to Cosmic Campground. It is a Gila National Forest campground about 10 miles north of Glenwood, NM, and is recognized by the International Dark Sky Association as one of the darkest night sky sites in North America. It is a small simple campground with pit toilets and a few concrete pads for setting up amateur telescopes. It was a lovely and isolated place in the high desert, surrounded by mountains - the Mogollon to the east and the Blue Ridge Primitive Area to the west. The night sky was wonderful.