Recreation - Wilderness

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 Gila National Forest includes more wilderness than any other national forest in the Southwest.

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 areas have been designated as Wilderness in the Gila National Forest.   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.   Aldo Leopold Wilderness The Aldo Leopold Wilderness is 202,016-acres and and straddles the Black Range on the eastern sid of the Forest   Blue Range Wilderness The 29,304-acre Blue Range Wilderness adjoins Arizona's rugged Blue Range Primitive Area.

Featured Areas Enlarge map   Notes In wilderness there are no roads; the only travel permitted is by foot or horseback. You will find no logging, resorts nor commercial uses of any kind except grazing. Hunting and fishing, however, are open to all citizens under New Mexico game laws. Please practice back country practices when in the Wilderness.   Links to Wilderness related sites: Tread Lightly Wilderness.net The Lightweight Backpacker Leave No Trace

USDA Forest Service - Gila National Forest
Last Modified: Thursday, July 01, 2004 4:18:22 PM