The Gila River Preserve protects more than 1,200 acres of the southwest's fragile riparian habitat and the verdant gallery woodland among the Gila River, the last of the southwest's major free-flowing rivers.

In 2009, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) added 40 acres of important riverside habitat to the Gila River Preserve. The new stretch inserts an important piece to this project area, which includes the preserve and more than 250,000 acres collaboratively managed by TNC, local landowners, federal and state agencies, and local organizations.

TNC's long-term vision for the preserve is simple: let the river rediscover its natural floodplain and enable new cottonwoods and willows to spring up, providing habitat for neotropical migratory songbirds, especially the southwest willow flycatcher, a species whose population is in trouble. A host of other rare animal species also use the preserve's habitats.

Gila River Farm Trail: A short 0.75-mile loop follows a dirt road out to a trail on the floodplain. The loop can be extended to a 1.5-mile hike around the perimeter of the Gila River Farm, mostly on dirt roads.

Iron Bridge Trail: This 1.5-mile loop trail, with an out-and-back section to the river, is a footpath on the mostly flat floodplain of the Gila River.

Mogollon Box Trail: This three-mile hike crosses Mogollon Creek, normally dry, and parallels the Gila River heading upstream. The hike continues up onto the mesa with an excellent view of the mountains. The two-track continues upstream to the USGS gage site. Much of the hike is an out-and-back and can be shortened.