The San Carlos Apache Reservation


San Carlos, Arizona
The land, the gift
The San Carlos Apache Reservation was the first Apache reservation created way back in 1871 during the beginning of the famous Apache Wars. Its original size has shrunk considerably and what was left was divided between the San Carlos and Fort Apache. It is also home to the largest Apache Tribe in the country. The reservation consists of approximately 1.865 million acres or roughly close to 3,000 square miles of mostly untouched landscape Located in the southeastern central region of Arizona, The San Carlos Apache Reservation is comprised of many different landscapes from Sonoran Desert regions, to high desert rimrock to alpine regions with high country meadows and timber. With nearly a hundred scattered man-made dirt tanks, many hold fish and are a great place to escape to. Channel catfish, Flathead catfish, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, three species of trout, sunfish and the black crappie are the game fish available here.
There are also five lakes: San Carlos, Talkalai, Seneca, Point of Pines and Dry Lake. All hold fish and are excellent places for recreation. There are also 5 rivers on the reservation, four of which have fish. Numerous permanent springs about across the landscape and countless more seeps and seasonal springs are everywhere.
There are also over two thousand miles of highway, paved and dirt roads across the land. Some roads are primitive so one must be careful when travelling across our homeland. Spring time can produce some of the most spectacular flower blooms one has ever seen! Sometimes for miles a field of colorful flowers of different varieties that will stretch with the Mexican Poppies being the most popular.
There are countless activities to do throughout the land, most requiring specialty permits for specific activities. Our Recreation and Wildlife Department oversees all permits for activities such as hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, birdwatching and just exploring the land in general. There are also tribal guides who can help you arrange these activities for a fee. The hunting here is at a world class level. San Carlos Apache Reservation has ten big game species available to hunt and small game plus upland gamebirds, waterfowl etc. So, if you have a desire to explore and hike where few people have ventured, or if you are a hunter or fisherman and want to find solitude in a remote place, take photos and just enjoy the outdoors then the San Carlos Apache Reservation is just the place for you!

Administration
Building 3A San Carlos Ave.
San Carlos, AZ 85550
Phone (928) 475-1600
Fax (928) 475-1600
Mailing Address
San Carlos Apache Tribe
PO Box 0
San Carlos, AZ 85550