Welcome
Road Conditions and Closures
Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has opened State Route (SR) 273 from the Forest/Reservation boundary to the Big Lake Recreation Area, expect construction delays.
News
¤¤ Rodeo-Chediski Prescribed Burn Project Seeking Public Comment, 05/07
¤¤ $1.23 Million Awarded for Renovation of Hoyer Campground in the White Mountains, 03/17
¤¤ Prescribed Burns Scheduled near Eagar, 01/29
¤¤ Grand Canyon State to provide Nation’s Capitol Christmas Tree in 2009, 12/02
Notices
Prescribed Fire Activity
Prescribed fire season is now underway so smoke may be visible in various locations throughout the Apache-Sitgreaves. Dial 593 or 928-333-3412 to listen to a recorded message about current prescribed fire activity.
Arizona State Law on Off-Highway Vehicles
Requires annual purchase of an Off-Highway Vehicle Decal to operate any ATV or OHV in Arizona that is designed by manufacturer primarily for off-highway use and weighs less than 1,800 pounds. read more »
Motorized Travel Management
The rule requires each National Forest and Grassland to designate where the public can operate motor vehicles.
read more »
Forest Plan Revision
We are revising the strategic direction for the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. Your input is important to us.
read more »
Recreation Facility Analysis
Recreation Facility Analysis (RFA) is a study tool being used nationally to help national forests create a sustainable program that aligns their developed recreation sites with visitors' desires and use. read more »
Map of Arizona showing the location of the Apache-Sitgreaves Forests
The Apache and Sitgreaves National Forests, administered as one national forest, encompass over two million acres of magnificent mountain country in east-central Arizona. The Sitgreaves National Forest was named for Captain Lorenzo Sitgreaves, a government topographical engineer who conducted the first scientific expedition across Arizona in the early 1850’s... read more »
On the Sitgreaves, the major attractions for the visitors from the desert are the Mogollon Rim and eight cold-water lakes. From the Mogollon Rim’s 7,600- foot elevation, vista points provide inspiring views of the low lands to the south. The Rim (pronounced: muggy-own) extends two hundred miles from Flagstaff into western New Mexico.
The Apache National Forest ranges in elevation from 3,500 feet to nearly 11,500 feet and is named for the tribes that settled in this area. The area from Mount Baldy east to Escudilla Mountain is often referred to as the White Mountains of Arizona. From the edge of the Mogollon Rim south of Hannagan Meadow the land drops precipitously into the high desert around Clifton.
[ photo: right ] the Little Colorado River near Greer
Rodeo-Chediski Prescribed Burn Project Seeking Public Comment
The 2002 Rodeo-Chediski fire still burns in the memories of those most impacted by its devastating effects. Declared the worst fire disaster in Arizona's history and bearing a price tag of over $50 million, it burned over 461,000 acres and consumed 491 structures. Undoubtedly, those 50,000 residents impacted by the subsequent evacuations would wish to avoid another such a catastrophic event.
To reduce the risk of future high intensity fires within the Rodeo-Chediski Fire area, the Black Mesa and Lakeside Ranger Districts of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests are proposing a prescribed burn project slated to take 10-15 years to complete, considering all initial treatments and follow-up maintenance burns. Other objectives are to improve forest health in this fire dependant ecosystem and to sustain improvements to wildlife habitat for mule deer, turkey and elk that occurred as a result of the fire.
news release »
project information »Rolfe C Hoyer Campground Closed Until June 30th
Due to an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act renovation project, this campground will be closed to all camping until June 30th, 2009. At that time, the campground will open on a first come first serve basis.
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests awarded $1.23 Million for Renovation of Hoyer Campground in the White Mountains
Springerville, AZ — Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests officials recently announced that the forest has been awarded $1.23 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to use for the renovation of a popular White Mountains area campground. read more »
Grand Canyon State to provide Nation’s Capitol Christmas Tree in 2009
Phoenix, AZ — As the nation celebrates the annual lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree, also known as the "people’s tree," in Washington, D.C. today, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests officials together with Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano are announcing that next year’s Capitol Christmas Tree will be a 70-foot tree harvested from the White Mountains of Arizona.
The custom of placing the nation’s Christmas tree on the front lawn of the U.S. Capitol dates back to 1964. Traditionally the "tree" comes from a national forest within the United States. Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests employees are already busy looking for the perfect tree that will be selected by the Capitol Landscape Architect in July. read more »
Update on Forest Service Motorized Travel Planning
Motorized travel management planning continues on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. The Forests have contracted with a private firm to assist in the analysis processes necessary to implement the Travel Management Rule (TMR). Using information and data supplied by the Forest Service, the contractor will manage the process and organize, assemble and compile the required documents. Having a contractor perform these time-intensive tasks enables Forest Service specialists to provide their professional expertise to this effort, while also continuing work on other important Forests' priorities, such as forest thinning projects that reduce the risks of wildfire to local communities, and forest plan revision. read more »
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USDA Forest Service - Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests
Last Modified:
Friday, 08 May 2009 at 17:51:51 EDT