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Welcome to the Southwestern Region
Never Allowed and Illegal: Fireworks and Pyrotechnics.
It is illegal to bring or use any kind of firework, or other pyrotechnic device on Federal Lands, which includes National Forests. Help prevent wildfires! More information: Forest Order 3-00-23-001 and Map.
Discover Summer in the Southwest!
Longer days and brighter colors make summer a great time to get outdoors and discover Southwestern forests. Hike, bike, paddle, or just be in nature and soak it in!
Canyon Lake, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, AZ. USDA Forest Service photo.
The Southwestern Region covers more than 20.6 million acres, boasting thousands of recreation opportunities spread across six national forests in Arizona, five national forests and a national grassland in New Mexico, and one national grassland each in Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle. The elevation ranges from 1,600 feet above sea level and an annual rainfall of 8 inches in Arizona's lower Sonoran Desert to 13,171-foot high Wheeler Peak and over 35 inches of precipitation a year in northern New Mexico.
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Hiring Event
Temp Hire June 27 - July 10, 2024
Apply for temporary jobs in fire, range, timber, recreation, biology, and more. Assignments can last 6 months to a year and start dates range from October 2024 - December 2024. Apply by July 10.
Plan Your Visit
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Find a Getaway
The Southwest Region is brimming with opportunities for all kinds of outdoor recreation. There is something for everyone!
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Be Prepared
Plan for your next adventure by purchasing a map and browsing our publications. Maps can be purchased online or in-person.
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Passes and Permits
Most national forest system lands are open, free of charge for your use and enjoyment. Several types of passes and permits exist for sites that require fees, and for commercial and special uses.
Get Involved
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Comment Period Open for Legacy Road & Trail Projects
The Legacy Road & Trails program is accepting comments on proposed projects for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Submit comments by July 14.
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Smokey Bear Reading Challenge
Help celebrate Smokey Bear's 80th Birthday by joining the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge.
Learn About the Southwestern Region
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Caring for the Land
In the Southwestern Region, the Forest Service is tasked with managing public lands brimming with natural resources and diverse wildlife. The Forest Service works to protect at-risk species like the Mexican spotted owl and New Mexican jumping mouse, ensure forest health through safe logging and grazing practices, and restore critical ecosystems.
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Wildfire Crisis Strategy
In 2022, the Forest Service launched a 10-year strategy to address the wildfire crisis across the west. The Wildfire Crisis Strategy aims to dramatically increase fuels and forest health treatments, including on four designated landscapes in Arizona and New Mexico.
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New National Monument
The Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni—Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument comprises 917,618 acres acres of land managed by the Kaibab National Forest and Bureau of Land Management around Grand Canyon National Park. Designating the new national monument, which contains ancestral homelands of many Tribes, will preserve its important historic, cultural, natural, scientific, and recreational values.
Features
New Helibase on the Payson Ranger District
Forest Service officials say the $4.9 million facility will play a major role in suppressing wildfires in Arizona and supporting the agency’s wildfire crisis strategy for reducing wildfire risk to communities and improving resilience of Arizona’s forests.
Cibola Air Tanker Base on Kirtland Air Force Base
The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands in collaboration with long-standing partner Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB) has completed upgrades to the Albuquerque Air Tanker Base (ATB) on the KAFB. These upgrades allow very large airtankers (VLATs) to be filled and deliver fire retardant to suppress wildfires across the Southwest and beyond. The upgrades to the ATB increases capacity for combating the wildfire crisis, making it one of four bases in the region that can accommodate the VLAT.