Nature
Gila National Forest is a vast, rugged protected landscape in southwestern New Mexico centered near Silver City, with mountains, canyons, mesas, semi-desert country, notable wildlife, cliff dwellings, hot springs, and an extensive trail system. Its origins trace to the Gila River Forest Reserve in 1899, followed by renaming, transfer to the U.S. Forest Service, and national forest status in 1907, with later additions expanding its reach. Its greatest historical importance lies in conservation: in 1924, the Gila Wilderness became the first designated wilderness area in the United States, decades before the national wilderness system. The forest remains a major Southwestern wildland shaped by recreation and continuing management debates.
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New Mexico · United States
