Welcome to Gila National Forest, 33 million acres of
publicly owned forest and range land rising above the
desert country of southwestern New Mexico. This is a
rugged realm of cactus and grass, juniper and pine,
spruce and aspen, and few people. The Gila contains
more federal land than any other national forest outside
of Alaska. One unit lies less than 50 miles from the
Mexican border. The main unit forms an irregular
outline about 65 miles by 100 miles in area just north
of Silver City. The Continental Divide meanders for
170 miles through this awesome canyon country, once the
stronghold of Apache warrior Geronimo and his followers.
Centuries ago, cliff dwelling tribes lived here, and the
remains of their homes are scattered throughout the
forest. One outstanding example has been preserved
for today’s Cliff Dwellings National Monument and Gila
Vistor Center.
The mountain ranges of the Gila include
the Mogollon, Tularosa, Diablo, Big Burro, San Francisco
and Mangas Mountains, and the Black Range Elevations
start at 4,500 feet in the desert and rise to almost
11,000 on the often snow-covered crest of Whitewater,
Baldy.
Come joing me in a picture tour of Gila National Forest and see the
rugged area where trees, plants, shubbery, and cactus florish.