The Gila National Forest lies in southern Catron, northern Grant, western Sierra and extreme northeastern Hidalgo counties in southwestern New Mexico. It was established in 1899 and covers approximately 3.3 million acres of public land, making it the sixth largest National Forest in the continental United State.

Twenty four percent of the Forest area is composed of the Gila, Aldo Leopold and Blue Range Wildernesses. The Gila Wilderness was administratively established in 1924 by the U.S. federal government as the first designated wilderness. The Aldo and Blue Range Wildernesses were later established in 1980. The Forest Supervisor’s office is located in Silver City, New Mexico with six ranger district offices in Glenwood, Mimbres, Quemado, Reserve, Silver City and Truth or Consequences. The Forest has 12 mountain ranges and an elevational range of 4,160 to 10,770 feet. Annual precipitation ranges from approximately 11 inches on the northern end of the Forest near Quemado and on the very southern end of the Black Range to over 35 inches in the higher elevations of the Black Range and Mogollon Mountains. The Forest includes semi-desert grasslands and shrublands, woodlands, ponderosa pine, mixed conifer and spruce-fir life zones. Major streams include the Mimbres River, the Gila River and its tributary the San Francisco River. The Forest provides habitat for elk, deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, javelina, coatimundi, turkey, bear and mountain lion and many other wildlife species. Habitats across the Forest also support many endangered, threatened or candidate species such as Gila trout, spikedace, loach minnow, Chiricahua leopard frog, southwestern willow flycatcher, Mexican gray wolf, Mexican spotted owl and others. The Forest has a rich cultural history with archaeological resources reflecting a 13,000 year occupational time period.

At present, the Catron, Grant, Hidalgo and Sierra Counties are home to just over 50,000 people, who rely on the Forest to varying degrees as a source of sustenance. This has manifested through various means ranging from utilizing the natural resources on the Forest for livelihood; creating community synergy around issues and events; offering a place for groups to commune, work, and recreate together; to providing solitude, peace, and relaxation for individuals who want to get away from the social pressures and pace of their everyday world. While ways and means may have changed over time, people enjoy all manner of activities on the Forest. Firewood gathering is an important traditional activity as many local residents still rely on wood to heat their homes during the cold winter months. Permitted livestock grazing, hunting and outfitting and guiding are also long-standing traditions. The Forest also provides outdoor recreational activities for both area residents and tourists.

Source: USDA Forest Assessment 2012