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Welcome to the Southwestern Region
Happy 53rd Birthday, Woodsy Owl!
Let's show Woodsy some birthday love and "lend a hand, care for the land."
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.
Permanent Wildland Firefighting Jobs
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Fire Hire
Apply for permanent fire, fuels and aviation management (FFAM) positions August 23 - September 24, 2024. Learn about basic training requirements and tips on applying. Come work with us!
Featured News from the Region
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Monks Chip Away at Wildfire Risk
The USDA Forest Service is reducing wildfire risk and forging unusual, unique partnerships. Learn how Benedictine monks at Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery bring the community and Forest Service together to reduce wildfire risk near the Gila National Forest.
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Water is Life: Two-Part Series
In this two-part series, learn how centuries old traditions and a modern day wildfire crisis strategy improve water quality in the Carson National Forest's Enchanted Circle Landscape.
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.
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.
Get Involved
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Smokey Bear Reading Challenge
Help celebrate Smokey Bear's 80th Birthday by joining the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge.
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.