Apache National Forest was established by the U.S. Forest Service in Arizona and New Mexico on July 1, 1908, with 1,302,711 acres (5,271.88 km2) from portions of Black Mesa National Forest.

[1] 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.

There are local ranger district offices in Alpine, Clifton, and Springerville.

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