Our Forests & Wilderness
The Apache National Forest and Gila National Forest border each another in this county, blanketing almost 75% of  
Catron County – with the remaining 25% of the land held privately.

Catron County has approximately 4,000 residents – almost two square miles of wide-open space per person. We boast more
elk than people, providing residents of Catron County with rich wildlife, recreational and outdoor  opportunities.  

The protected Blue Range Wilderness, Aldo Leopold Wilderness, and Gila Wilderness all surround our county. The major
mountain ranges in the county are: The Mogollons, Saliz, Gallo, Mangas, San Francisco, Tularosa and Datil Mountains.

Several perennial streams that exist in the county are: Largo, Apache Creek, Negrito, Willow, Tularosa, San Francisco and
Gila River. Our beautiful mountain lakes include: Snow Lake, Wall Lake, Toriette Lakes and Quemado Lake. Hunting for
large and small game is popular - as well as fishing, hiking, cross country skiing, bird watching, cycling, rodeo, rock collecting,
astronomy, horseback riding, photography, motorcycle and automobile touring, and porch sitting.
  • The largest wilderness area is the Gila Wilderness, set aside in 1924. It contains over 558,000
    acres.

  • Over 400 miles of fishing streams lace the forest.

  • The Gila Wilderness encompasses more land than any other forested area - except Alaska.

  • Whitewater Baldy is the highest point of the Mogollon Mountains (10,892-foot elevation) and is
    the highest point in the entire southwest portion of New Mexico

  • Whitewater Baldy is part of the Datil-Mogollon Volcanic Plateau, consisting of volcanic material
    formed 20 – 40 million years ago.

  • The word Gila (he-la) was derived from a Spanish interpretation of Hah-quah-sa-eel (a Yuma
    Indian word meaning “running water which is salty”).

  • The Continental Divide travels 170 miles through the Gila National Forest and wilderness area.

  • Elevations range from 4,200 - 10,900, with varying terrain from Sonoran and Upper Sonoran
    desert to transitional and fir forests.

  • The Gila National Forest boasts a rich history of fascinating people from the Mogollon and
    Apache Indians to Spaniards, Mexicans, ranchers, prospectors and miners.

  • You can visit places that tempt you with tales from the past like Raw Meat Canyon, Tepee
    Canyon, Skeleton Ridge Trail, and Grave Canyon.

  • Hot springs in the Gila National Forest: Turkey Creek Hot Springs, Middle Fork Hot
    Springs, Jordon Hot Springs, and San Francisco Hot Springs.
Forest Facts