Apache National Forest was established by the U.S. Forest Service in Arizona and New Mexico on July 1, 1908, with 1302711 acre from portions of Black Mesa National Forest. In 1974 the entire forest was administratively combined with Sitgreaves National Forest to create Apache-**Sitgreaves National Forest**s. The New Mexico section is now administered by the Gila National Forest. The area of the former Apache National Forest covers most of Greenlee County, Arizona (excepting the southernmost part of the county), southern Apache County, Arizona, and part of western Catron County, New Mexico. The former Apache is much the larger than the former Sitgreaves. As of 30 September 2008, its area was 1,813,601 acre, representing 68.9% of the combined Apache–Sitgreaves total area. There are local ranger district offices in Alpine, Clifton, and Springerville. (Springerville is also the headquarters of the combined Apache–Sitgreaves.)

Wilderness areas

There are four wilderness areas within Apache National Forest that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System: