The Gila National Forest has more publicly owned land than any other national forest except for Alaska’s Tongass National Forest.  It also has the largest wilderness area in the country and the first designated wilderness area in the world, the Gila Wilderness Area.  Its designation was largely due to the efforts of Aldo Leopold, the father of wildlife management in the United States.

The Gila National Forest has more publicly owned land than any other national forest except for Alaska’s Tongass National Forest.  It also has the largest wilderness area in the country and the first designated wilderness area in the world, the Gila Wilderness Area.  Its designation was largely due to the efforts of Aldo Leopold, the father of wildlife management in the United States.