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649 miles

Gila River

From the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico the river runs west past Safford, through San Carlos Lake, skirts the south side of metro Phoenix, and crosses the desert past Gila Bend to the Colorado at Yuma.

N50 mi
Course of the river, simplified. Orange dots are boat ramps and launches, blue squares are bait shops. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Weather at the Gila River (National Weather Service) ↗

River facts

Length649 miles
SourceEast and West forks meet in Grant County, New Mexico
MouthJoins the Colorado River at Yuma, Arizona
StatesArizona, New Mexico

Coolidge Dam forms San Carlos Lake; Ashurst-Hayden Diversion Dam and Painted Rock Dam also cross the river.

Boat ramps and launches

Orange dots on the map. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps. Public ramps and launches along the Gila River in New Mexico, from OpenStreetMap. The list may be incomplete, so check the state wildlife agency for current access.

Closest bait shops

Blue squares on the map. Tap a name to open the shop's website, or its location in Google Maps if it has none listed. Bait and tackle shops closest to the river's ramps, from OpenStreetMap. Call ahead for hours and live bait.

Fishing regulations

Check the state agency for river-specific rules, seasons and limits before you fish:

Facts from Gila River (Wikipedia) ↗ · Boat ramps and bait shops: OpenStreetMap contributors · River course: U.S. Geological Survey

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View on interactive map

Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map to follow the river past roads and towns. Red pins are boat ramps and launches; blue pins are bait shops. Tap a pin for directions.