Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests span east Arizona and north New Mexico, blending high-elevation pines with arid basin ecosystems and clear mountain streams. Known for lakes and forested campsites, they serve as a gateway to native pueblos, traditional hunting grounds, and year-round recreation—from winter snow and cross-country skiing to summer hiking and fishing.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | North America |
| Subregion | Southwest U.S. |
| Country | United States |
| State | ArizonaNew Mexico |
| County | Apache County (AZ)Greenlee County (AZ)McKinley County (NM)Rio Arriba County (NM)San Juan County (NM) |
| District | Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests |
| Timezone | AmericaPhoenix |
| Latitude | 34.3 |
| Longitude | -109.2 |
| Maps |
7:12 PM LOCAL TIMEApache-Sitgreaves National Forests stretch across a rugged, semi-arid landscape where Pinus edulis (pinyon pine) and Juniperus species give way to higher,elevation forests of Pinus contorta (lodgepole pine) and Picea species. The combined complex of two administratively linked forests—Apache and Sitgreaves—offers scenic lakes, seasonal streams, and multi-use trails that wind through mixed-conifer and pines. These forests form part of the larger Colorado Plateau and Basin and Range region, serving as an important cultural landscape for local tribes, and providing corridors for wildlife movement and traditional economy. Key destinations include the waters of Blue Ridge, Big Lake, and Luna Lake; trailheads into the Zuni Mountain and San Francisco Peaks draining east; and forest-access routes connecting to national and state highways. Visitors come for year-round recreation—winter cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, spring and summer fishing and camping, and autumnal hunting and fall foliage drives. Be prepared for variable weather; high mountain temperatures can rapidly change, and desert basin conditions can lead to large temperature swings diurnally.
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