Gila National Forest
Red Flag Warning issued June 29 at 6:45PM MST until June 30 at 7:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM MST /11 AM MDT/ TO 7 PM MST /8 PM MDT/ TUESDAY... * WHAT...Critical Fire Weather conditions will subside this evening as winds speeds decrease. The Red Flag Warning for Monday will expire at 7 PM MST. These conditions redevelop by late Tuesday morning, with Critical Fire Weather conditions developing for much of Tuesday in the same area, Expect southwest winds 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph, along with minimum relative humidity values from 6 to 20 percent. * WHERE...East and southeast of Flagstaff, stretching along the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains, as well as northward into the Little Colorado River Valley. This includes portions of the Apache-Sitgreaves and Coconino National Forests. * WHEN...From 10 AM MST /11 AM MDT/ to 7 PM MST /8 PM MDT/ Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Rapid spread and growth of any new or existing fires. Fires will have the potential to exhibit extreme fire behavior. Elevated potential for new fire starts.
Red Flag Warning issued June 29 at 6:45PM MST until June 29 at 7:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM MST /11 AM MDT/ TO 7 PM MST /8 PM MDT/ TUESDAY... * WHAT...Critical Fire Weather conditions will subside this evening as winds speeds decrease. The Red Flag Warning for Monday will expire at 7 PM MST. These conditions redevelop by late Tuesday morning, with Critical Fire Weather conditions developing for much of Tuesday in the same area, Expect southwest winds 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph, along with minimum relative humidity values from 6 to 20 percent. * WHERE...East and southeast of Flagstaff, stretching along the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains, as well as northward into the Little Colorado River Valley. This includes portions of the Apache-Sitgreaves and Coconino National Forests. * WHEN...From 10 AM MST /11 AM MDT/ to 7 PM MST /8 PM MDT/ Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Rapid spread and growth of any new or existing fires. Fires will have the potential to exhibit extreme fire behavior. Elevated potential for new fire starts.
Cannabis Possession Prohibited
Order 03-00-00-21-002 prohibits possessing, storing, or transporting a cannabis plant, any part of a cannabis plant, or any substance derived from a cannabis plant within the Southwestern Region National Forests in the State of New Mexico and the National Grasslands in the states of Texas and…
Overview
Gila National Forest is a 3.3 million-acre forest in southwestern New Mexico, home to the world's first designated wilderness area—the Gila Wilderness (established 1924). The forest is currently open with some localized restrictions. Key current conditions: Quemado Lake and nearby recreation areas remain closed due to harmful algal blooms detected in fall 2025. The forest is conducting prescribed fire operations through spring 2026 as weather permits. The 2025 wildfire season saw significant activity including the Trout Fire (discovered June 12) and Goose Fire, both of which required area closures and Highway 15 restrictions through summer, though most of these closures have been lifted as suppression repair continues. Stage 2 Fire Restrictions may be in effect depending on conditions. The forest encompasses three major wilderness areas: the 559,688-acre Gila Wilderness, the 202,016-acre Aldo Leopold Wilderness, and the 29,304-acre Blue Range Wilderness. Popular destinations include the Catwalk recreation area, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (NPS-managed), and Cosmic Campground—North America's first International Dark Sky Sanctuary on National Forest lands. Always check current alerts for fire restrictions, area closures, and road conditions before your visit, as conditions change frequently during fire season.
Campgrounds
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