Cardwell Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Cardwell Park is a popular tourist destination located in the state of New Mexico.


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Summary

The park is known for its stunning natural beauty, wide variety of outdoor activities, and diverse wildlife. Some of the top reasons to visit Cardwell Park include hiking, fishing, boating, camping, and wildlife viewing.

One of the most popular attractions in Cardwell Park is the Gila River, which offers excellent fishing opportunities for trout, bass, and other species. Other popular points of interest within the park include the Gila National Forest, which boasts over 3 million acres of pristine wilderness, and the Catwalk National Recreation Trail, which offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and canyons.

Visitors to Cardwell Park can also enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and horseback riding. Wildlife enthusiasts will be thrilled to spot a variety of animals, including elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and numerous bird species.

Interestingly, Cardwell Park is home to the world's largest single-span timber arch bridge, which spans a distance of over 1,200 feet. The park also boasts numerous historic sites and cultural landmarks, including ancient Native American ruins and the historic mining town of Mogollon.

The best time of year to visit Cardwell Park is during the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the park's natural beauty is at its peak. However, visitors should be aware that the park is prone to flash floods during the monsoon season, which typically occurs from July through September.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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