The Gila National Forest is a United States National Forest in New Mexico. Established in 1905, it now covers approximately 2,710,659 acres (10,969.65 km2), making it the sixth largest National Forest in the continental United States. The Forest administration also manage the part of the Apache National Forest in New Mexico which covers 614,202 acres for a total of 3.3 million acres managed by the Gila National Forest. Within the forest, the Gila Wilderness was established in 1924 as the US's first designated wilderness. The Aldo Leopold Wilderness and Blue Range Wilderness are also found within its borders. The Blue Range Primitive Area lies within Arizona in the neighboring Apache National Forest.
Gila National Forest along New Mexico Route 180
A Gila Forest Ranger with his outfit, 1928
Moonlit view of Gallinas Canyon in the Black Range
A beaver dam spans a section of the Middle Fork of the Gila River.
Gila Wilderness was designated the world's first wilderness area on June 3, 1924. Along with Aldo Leopold Wilderness and Blue Range Wilderness, the 558,014 acre wilderness is part of New Mexico's Gila National Forest. The wilderness is approximately 27 miles (43 km) from north to south and 39 miles (63 km) east to west.
Four packs of Mexican wolves roam the wilderness.
A beaver dam spans a section of the Middle Fork of the Gila River.
The Gila River winds its way through the Wilderness.
Riders in the Gila Wilderness, 1922
