The San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, which was established by executive order on November 9, 1871, spans Gila, Graham, and Pinal Counties in Southeastern Arizona. Covering 1,834,781 acres, it encompasses alpine meadows to desert.
Over one-third of the community’s land is forested (175,000 acres) or wooded (665,000 acres). San Carlos forest lands create a naturally superior habitat for many wildlife species including elk, mule deer, turkeys, black bear, and mountain lion. A portion of the reservation is contiguous with the largest stand of ponderosa pines in the world.