| Some of the most spectacular scenery in the southwest awaits the forest visitor on the two million acres of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Elevations range from 3,500 feet in the upper Sonoran desert life zone covered by prickly pear and yucca to nearly 11,500 feet in the Alpine life zone where visitors can see beautiful stands of fir and spruce interwoven with lush green meadows.Water makes the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest a special place in the typically arid Southwest. The Forest has 24 lakes and reservoirs and more than 450 miles of rivers and streams - more than can be found in any other Southwestern National Forest. The White Mountains contain the headwaters of several Arizona rivers including the Black, the Little Colorado, and the San Francisco. The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest is also noted for its trout streams and high-elevation lakes and meadows.The Mount Baldy, Escudilla, and Bear Wallow Wildernesses and the Blue Range Primitive Area make up over 200,000 acres of wilderness and primitive areas within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Travel is restricted to foot or horseback and mechanized equipment is prohibited in these areas.The Apache-Sitgreaves provides habitat for over 400 species of wildlife. The forest is home to most big game animals, such as antelope, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and turkey, as well as a variety of songbirds, waterfowl, small mammals, fish, amphibians and reptiles. There are opportunities throughout the forest for photographers, casual observers, hunters, and anglers.The high country on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest receives ample snow each year for various types of snow play. Popular winter activities include snowmobiling, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, and ice fishing.The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests provide a four season recreational experience with settings ranging from low elevation desert to high elevation mixed conifer stands. A word of caution, because of the dramatic differences in elevation across the forest, there are chances for sudden storms and changes in weather. |
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