Getting Oriented
Bursum Road sits squarely on Gila NF, which surrounds the Gila Wilderness, the country's first designated wilderness area. The road's western trailhead is the ghost town of Mogollon, three paved miles off US-180 at Glenwood. The eastern terminus is the Beaverhead Work Center, a USFS administrative outpost on FR 150. Glenwood Ranger District and Wilderness Ranger District share the road.
Trail Overview
Fifty-three miles point-to-point. The first nine miles east of Mogollon climb 2,500 feet on a narrow shelf road with multiple switchbacks. The grade reaches the plateau near Sandy Point at 9,000 feet, then crosses through Willow Creek (USFS campground), drops to Snow Lake (USFS campground and small lake), and runs east through Bursum Park to Beaverhead. The plateau crossing is graded forest road; high-clearance 2WD can manage in dry conditions, but the western shelf-road climb out of Mogollon makes 4WD the practical recommendation for the full route.
Points of Interest
- Mogollon ghost town. Restored mining town at 6,800 feet, with a museum and a few summer-season businesses. The road begins on its eastern edge.
- Sandy Point. The high switchback climb's overlook, with views back across the Mogollon Range.
- Willow Creek. USFS-developed campground in a meadow on the road's northern half, with stocked trout in the creek.
- Snow Lake. Small high-country lake with a USFS campground; rainbow trout fishing.
- Bursum Park. A high meadow on the central plateau, named for the road's namesake senator.
- Beaverhead Work Center. The eastern terminus and Gila NF's interior administrative outpost. Connects to FR 150 (the Continental Divide Trail crosses here).
Where to Camp
Willow Creek and Snow Lake Campgrounds (USFS-developed) sit on the road's northern half. Both have vault toilets, no water, and small site counts; first-come, first-served. Dispersed camping is allowed on Gila NF land off the main road with the standard 14-day stay limit, and the high meadows along the route make for easy primitive sites. Lower Black Canyon and Black Canyon Campgrounds sit south of FR 150 if you continue the loop.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Run east-to-west to face the inside of the switchbacks on the Mogollon descent rather than the drop side.
- Check Gila NF road status before going. Snow lingers into May at Bursum Park; the road is officially closed in winter.
- Carry recovery gear and a spare. The Mogollon shelf road has minimal turnaround if you puncture mid-climb.
- The Glenwood Ranger District (575-539-2481) and Wilderness Ranger District (575-536-2250) handle current conditions.
- Combine with Forest Road 150 (North Star Mesa Road) for a 200-mile loop through the Gila high country.
- Cell service is gone for most of the route. Bring an inReach or comparable satellite messenger.
