The riparian ecosystem and old-growth forest offer many birding opportunities for forest species like Mountain Chickadees, Hermit Thrush, Nuthatches, Spotted Owls, warblers, and woodpeckers. The mountain crest and upper meadows are home to band-tailed pigeons, hawks, and wild turkeys. 

Railroad Canyon is the gateway to the Aldo Leopold Wilderness.

Railroad Canyon Campground is a great place to spend the night before beginning your trip into the Aldo Leopold Wilderness. Situated in the Black Range Mountains, the campground is a popular portal for backcountry trips. Amenities are few and the camping is lean, however, nature seekers will appreciate the myriad of trails accessible from this campground.

Railroad Canyon Campground is located east of Silver City on the north side of NM-152 between mile markers 27 and 28.

With over three million acres of forested hills, majestic mountains, and range land, Gila National Forest is best known for its wilderness areas, in particular the Gila Wilderness, the first wilderness in the United States. The magnificent mountain scenery, cool summer temperatures, and relatively warm winters permit a wide range of recreational opportunities during all seasons.

The Gila National Forest includes more wilderness than any other national forest in the Southwest. This undeveloped natural country can refresh the human spirit simply by its grandeur, purity, and remoteness.

The wilderness areas on the Gila comprise a vast, roadless realm astride the Black, Mogollon, Diablo, and Blue mountain ranges, varying from grassland foothills upward through juniper woodland, ponderosa pine, and then spruce-fir forests on the high peaks. Mountain meadows, aspen glades, and spruce forests border on narrow, rock-walled canyons which in some places plunge to depths of more than a thousand feet.

Three wilderness areas together total 792,584 acres or approximately 24% of the Gila National Forest. The Gila Wilderness, at 559,688 acres, is New Mexico's largest wilderness with an extensive trail system providing access. The Gila Wilderness, the world's first designated wilderness, was created on June 3, 1924, at the urging of the great conservation pioneer Aldo Leopold. The Aldo Leopold Wilderness lies to the east, while towards the west, the smaller Blue Range Wilderness adjoins Arizona's rugged Blue Range Primitive Area.

Aldo Leopold Wilderness
The Aldo Leopold Wilderness is 202,016 acres and straddles the Black Range on the eastern side of the Forest.
Blue Range Wilderness
The 29,304-acre Blue Range Wilderness adjoins Arizona's rugged Blue Range Primitive Area.
Gila Wilderness
The 558,065-acre Gila Wilderness, created in June 1924 at the urging of the great conservation pioneer Aldo Leopold, was the world's first designated wilderness.

Trail 128 follows a stream up Railroad Canyon on this quiet journey through mixed conifer and aspen forest to the crest of the Black Range.

Trails 128 and 129 are very similar. Spring and summer offer cool streams and pleasant temperatures. August and September have the best wildflower displays. Mid to late October is the perfect time to hike to the crest and see the aspen in fall color.

Trails 79 and 128 can be linked to make a 13.5-mile day trip. It's three miles across the crest on Trail 79 to link 129 and 128. This scenic loop passes through dense old-growth pine forests and has outstanding mountain views.