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Reserve Ranger District

Reserve is located in western New Mexico near the Arizona border. The elevation is 5,832 feet above sea level. The population of Reserve is approximately 500 and is the county seat of Catron County, the largest in New Mexico. The nearest full-service town is Springerville, Arizona around 63 miles away.

The average annual temperature is 54 degrees. May is the driest month of the year while July is the wettest. The annual average precipitation is 15 inches.

The Gila National Forest and the Reserve Ranger District are renowned for their world class elk hunting areas with good fishing in the nearby streams and lakes The Reserve area offers many opportunities for camping, fishing and hiking, and the gateway to the Gila Wilderness is south of Reserve.

Contact the district office at 575-533-6232

General Information

The Reserve Ranger District is one of the largest districts in the northern portion of the Gila National Forest. Grass plains, chaparral, woodland, pine and mixed conifer habitats are found within the 613,119 acres that make up the district. Elevations are moderate to high and range from 5,300 feet to 9,786 feet. There are four developed campgrounds located on the district. The district boasts 155 miles of trail including 55 miles on the Continental Divide. Approximately 2,789 miles of roads occur throughout the area, many of which are primitive (dirt) roads. The district's southern border is the Gila Wilderness, providing several backcountry hiking opportunities. A large portion of the district is relatively untouched, providing the abundance of big game, small game, and fishing, making the area a "hunter's paradise", known worldwide.

Passes & Permits

There is a daily fee for use of Dipping Vat Campground, located at Snow Lake. No other fees are assessed on the Reserve Ranger District.

Rentals & Guides

Please contact the Gila National Forest Supervisors Office at 575-388-8201 for information about outfitters and guides who are authorized to operate on the forest. 

Recreation Sites

Showing: 1 - 10 of 23 results

Aeroplane Mesa #705 Trailhead

Site Open
Hiking Horse Riding and Camping
Trailhead for the Aeroplane Mesa - Trail #705 and access into the northern portion of the Gila Wilderness located at the Aeroplane Mesa Campground.

Aeroplane Mesa Campground

Site Open
Hiking Horse Riding and Camping Outdoor Science and Learning Biking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
Aeroplane Mesa Campground is a great location for hikers and horseback riders to access the wilderness.  The area is relatively open and 'park-like' with grass interspersed with trees.

Apache Creek Campground

Site Open
Hiking Outdoor Science and Learning
This is a nice quiet undeveloped campground amongst ponderosa pines and abundant wildlife.Apache Creek Campground is in the northwest region of the forest. There are plenty of trees to provide shade…

Cox Canyon Trail #15/CDNST Trailhead

Site Open
Hiking Horse Riding and Camping Biking
Trailhead on Forest Road 94 - Cox Canyon Road for access to Divide Trail #15 and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail #74 on the Gila National Forest.

Dipping Vat Campground

Site Open
Outdoor Science and Learning Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Water Activities Hiking
This is a fantastic place to get away from it all! Dipping Vat Campground is located adjacent to the west side of Snow Lake. Snow Lake is approximately 52 miles southeast of Reserve, New Mexico.…

Flying V #706 Trailhead

Site Open
Hiking Horse Riding and Camping
Trailhead for Flying V Trail #706 and access to the northern portion of the Gila Wilderness.

Last updated April 11th, 2025