Whiterocks via North Mesa

The trail starts behind the Gila Visitor Center (not at the road's end near the cliff dwellings). Follow the Middle Fork Gila River Trail #157 for approximately 2 miles until it intersects with trail #27. Follow trail #27 out of the river canyon and up to North Mesa in a northeast direction. Once on North Mesa trail #27 will intersect with trail #804. Continue in a northwest direction on trail #27 instead of continuing northeastward on trail #804. At the southern end of the valley which has the Whiterocks formation at its head (near the Whiterocks water tanks) you have two options: 1) continue northwest on trail #27 until it intersects trail #771, follow trail #771 northeastward until you are on the ridge which contains the Whiterocks formation or 2) take off cross country up the valley straight towards the Whiterocks formation (the valley is grassland with sparse pinyon pines throughout).