Macroporosity is an important factor related to soil water movement. Relatively little is known abut soil macroporosity in the Huoditang forest region of the Qinling Mountains. Although they contribute relatively little to total soil porosity, macropores have a very important influence on saturated hydraulic conductivity and on subsurface flow. The study of macropores is important for understanding the characteristics of soil water movement and the mechanism of water conservation under forest vegetation. At the microscopic scale, the flow of water in all soil macropores is related to the size of the void. Furthermore, water flow rates are controlled by the smallest void in any single continuous flow path (i.e., pore neck). The objectives of this experiment were to study the distribution of soil macropores in the Huoditang Forest region and to determine the influence of these macropores on saturated hydraulic conductivity. The volume of soil macropores is equivalent to the volume of water in a soil at saturation minus the volume of water in the same soil at field capacity. This definition, along with water breakthrough curves and the Poiseulle formula were used in this study. The results showed that the equivalent radii of soil macropores in the Huoditang Forest ranged from 0.3 to 3.8 mm. Macropores with equivalent radii > 1.5 mm made up only 5.37% of the total macropore content. The order of average area proportion of 0-60 cm layer was mixed forest > Pinus tabulaeformis forest > deciduous broadleaf forest > Pinus armandii forest. Heavy clay may restrict the development of macropores in the P. armandii forest soil. Macropore density was significantly greater in the upper soil layers than in the lower soil layers. There was significant correlation between macropore density and the soil organic matter content. Macropore distribution in the root zone differed significantly among the different forest types. The content of rock fragments in deeper soil layers also affected macropore distribution. The average densities of macropores with different equivalent radii were positively related with saturated hydraulic conductivity. The density of macropores with radii > 1.5 mm accounted for 84% of the variability in saturated hydraulic conductivity. Soil porosity ranged from 1.6 to 13.3%. The saturated hydraulic conductivity increased with porosity when porosity was less than 5%. This is because the possibility of such discontinuous behavior increased both as the size and connectivity of the macropores increased and as the effect of capillary tension within the macropores became smaller. Pore structure is of crucial importance. In general, macropores, especially those with radii >1.5 mm, play a critical role in conserving water in forest soils.