The United States has 154 protected areas known as national forests, covering 188336179acres. National forests are managed by the U.S. Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.[1] The first national forest was established as the Yellowstone Park Timber and Land Reserve on March 30, 1891, then in the Department of the Interior. In 1897, the Organic Act provided purposes for which forest reserves could be established, including to reserve a supply of timber, protect the forest from development, and secure water supplies. With the Forest Reserve Act of 1891, the president of the United States is given the power to set aside forest reserves in the public domain. With the Transfer Act of 1905, forest reserves became part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the newly created U.S. Forest Service.[2]
By 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt had more than doubled the forest-reserve acreage, and Congress responded by limiting the president's ability to proclaim new reserves. The National Forest System underwent a major reorganization in 1908, and in 1911 Congress authorized new additions to the system under the authority of the Weeks Act. The management goals provided by the Organic Act were expanded upon by the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960 to include "outdoor recreation, range, timber, watershed, and wildlife and fish purposes" as well as for the establishment of wilderness areas.[2]
As of September 30, 2014, the Forest Service manages a total of 192922127acres, 188336179acres of which are national forests. The additional land areas include 20 national grasslands, 59 purchase units, 19 research and experimental areas, five land utilization projects and 37 other areas. The National Forest System has an extensive and complicated history of reorganization, so while there are currently 154 named national forests, many of these are managed together as either a single forest or separate forests.[3]
There is at least one national forest in all but ten states: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Rhode Island (although Kansas and North Dakota have national grasslands). In addition, Puerto Rico contains El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical U.S. rainforest. Alaska has the most national forest land, with 21.9e6acre, followed by California (20.8abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit) and Idaho (20.4abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit). Idaho also has the greatest percent of its land in national forests, with 38.2 percent, followed by Oregon (24.7 percent) and Colorado (20.9 percent). On maps, national forests in the west generally show the true extent of their area, but those in the east often only show purchase districts, within which usually only a minority of the land is owned by the Forest Service.
| Name | Photo | Location[4] | Date formed[5] | Area[6] | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny | Pennsylvania 41.65°N -80°W | 5136551NaN1 | Pennsylvania's only national forest includes Kinzua Dam and Allegheny Reservoir on the Allegheny Plateau in the northwestern part of the state. The forest contains the largest tract of remaining old-growth forest in Pennsylvania at Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas and 10miles of the North Country Trail.[7] | ||
| Angeles | California 34.4°N -128°W | [8] | 6615651NaN1 | Located in the San Gabriel Mountains at the edge of the Los Angeles metro area, this national forest includes five wilderness areas. Much of the forest is dense chaparral. Elevations in the forest range from 1200feet to 10064feet at the summit of Mount San Antonio.[9] | |
| Angelina | Texas 31.2167°N -111°W | 1541401NaN1 | Primarily longleaf, loblolly, and shortleaf pine, the forest includes two wilderness areas and borders the Sam Rayburn Reservoir. The forest provides habitat for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and wintering habitat for bald eagles.[10] | ||
| Apache–Sitgreaves | Arizona, New Mexico 33.7333°N -114°W | 26263061NaN1 | Encompassing the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains, this forest includes 34 lakes and over 680miles of rivers and streams, more than any other national forest in the arid Southwest.[11] | ||
| Apalachicola | Florida 30.1833°N -125°W | 5761191NaN1 | As the largest national forest in Florida, Apalachicola includes over 2700acres of water and 67miles of the Florida Trail. There are caverns and sinkholes at the Leon Sinks Geological Area, while Fort Gadsden is along the Apalachicola River.[12] | ||
| Arapaho | Colorado 39.6833°N -161°W | 7204181NaN1 | Arapaho National Forest is in the high Rockies and includes six wilderness areas. It is currently managed jointly with Roosevelt National Forest and Pawnee National Grassland. The highest paved road in North America ascends Mount Blue Sky at an elevation of 14265feet.[13] | ||
| Ashley | Utah, Wyoming 40.6333°N -116°W | 13784241NaN1 | Ashley National Forest manages the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area and the High Uintas Wilderness. Kings Peak at 13528feet is the highest point in Utah and is located in the Uinta Mountains.[14] | ||
| Beaverhead–Deerlodge | Montana 45.5°N -113°W | 33626381NaN1 | The largest national forest in Montana, it encompasses several mountain ranges of the Rocky Mountains. The forest includes the Anaconda–Pintler and Lee Metcalf wilderness areas and sections of the Continental Divide Trail and Nez Perce National Historic Trail.[15] | ||
| Bienville | Mississippi 32.2667°N -119°W | 1802511NaN1 | Located in central Mississippi, this forest includes several lakes and reservoirs and Harrell Prairie, the largest and least disturbed prairie in the state. Bienville Pines Scenic Area includes 189acres of old-growth forest. It is managed collectively with Mississippi's five other national forests.[16] | ||
| Bighorn | Wyoming 44.5333°N -128°W | 11053111NaN1 | In the Bighorn Mountains of north-central Wyoming, Bighorn National Forest has eight lodges, several reservoirs, and 1500miles of trails. Elevation reach 13167feet at Cloud Peak in the Cloud Peak Wilderness, which is also the location of the Cloud Peak Glacier.[17] | ||
| Bitterroot | Montana, Idaho 45.7667°N -131°W | 15945791NaN1 | Bitterroot National Forest is located in the Bitterroot and Sapphire mountains, reaching its highest point at 10157feet at Trapper Peak. The forest is named for the bitterroot plant.[18] | ||
| Black Hills | South Dakota, Wyoming 44°N -150°W | 12508661NaN1 | Consisting predominantly of Ponderosa pine, this forest is located in the namesake Black Hills. There are 11 reservoirs, 353miles of trails, and 1300miles of streams in this forest. Black Elk Peak is the highest point in South Dakota and the highest point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains at 7244feet.[19] | ||
| Boise | Idaho 44.1167°N -149°W | 26482731NaN1 | Portions of the Boise, Payette, and South and Middle Forks of the Salmon River drainages make up the forest. There are over 7600miles of streams and more than 250 lakes and reservoirs in the forest.[20] | ||
| Bridger–Teton | Wyoming 42.75°N -155°W | 33833021NaN1 | As part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Bridger–Teton National Forest has 27 glaciers in its portion of the Wind River Range. The Gros Ventre landslide formed a dam on the Gros Ventre River in 1925 before failing in 1927.[21] | ||
| Caribou–Targhee | Idaho, Wyoming 41.95°N -120°W | 26247391NaN1 | The forest's Jedediah Smith Wilderness has many caves and the Winegar Hole Wilderness protects grizzly bear habitat in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The Upper and Lower Mesa Falls are on Henrys Fork of the Snake River and tours of Minnetonka Cave are available.[22] | ||
| Carson | New Mexico 36.5°N -110°W | 14863721NaN1[23] | In the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, this forest has over 600miles of trails and Taos Ski Valley. The highest point in the forest is Wheeler Peak, also New Mexico's highest point, at 13161feet.[24] [25] | ||
| Chattahoochee–Oconee | Georgia 34.75°N -91°W | 8667631NaN1 | With 430miles of trails, this forest contains the southern terminius of the Appalachian Trail. Georgia's highest point, Brasstown Bald at 4784feet is in the forest, and several Civil War battles were fought in the area.[26] | ||
| Chequamegon–Nicolet | Wisconsin 46.0333°N -138°W | 15237041NaN1 | There are 2,020 lakes, 440 spring ponds, and 347000acres of wetlands in this national forest. There are also 493miles of non-motorized trails, 292miles of motorized trails, and 9000miles of roads alongside five wilderness areas.[27] | ||
| Cherokee | Tennessee, North Carolina 35.8667°N -86°W | 6563941NaN1 | Cherokee National Forest has eleven wilderness areas, three large lakes, and over 600miles of trails, including 150miles of the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains. There are 43 mammal species, 154 fish species, 55 amphibian species, and 262 bird species in the forest.[28] | ||
| Chippewa | Minnesota 47.4°N -102°W | 6719521NaN1 | With 1,300 lakes and ponds, 925miles of rivers, and 440000acres of wetlands, there are many opportunities for boating and fishing in this forest. There are over 180 nesting pairs of bald eagles as well as Canada lynx, and sandhill cranes here.[29] | ||
| Chugach | Alaska 60.4667°N -156°W | 54190951NaN1 | As the third largest national forest, Chugach covers three unique landscapes: the Copper River Delta, Eastern Kenai Peninsula, and Prince William Sound. Many of the streams contain salmon and trout, and glaciers still carve the land here. Over half of the forest is tundra and glaciers.[30] | ||
| Cibola | New Mexico 34.3333°N -142°W | 16164351NaN1 | Part of this national forest are four wilderness areas, including the Sandia Mountain Wilderness east of Albuquerque. Elevations range from 5000feet to 11301feet at the summit of Mount Taylor, a stratovolcano in the San Mateo Mountains.[31] | ||
| Clearwater | Idaho 46.55°N -124°W | 16820681NaN1 | The forest covers the Bitterroot Mountains and Palouse Prairie as well as the Clearwater and Lochsa rivers. The Lewis and Clark Expedition followed the Lolo Trail through the forest in 1805, and gold miners came to the forest in the 1860s.[32] | ||
| Cleveland | California 32.75°N -152°W | 4255801NaN1 | In southern California, Cleveland National Forest has a Mediterranean climate and four wilderness areas. There are 22 endangered plant and animal species found in the forest. With its highest point at 6271feet on Monument Peak, elevations are not as high here as in most of California's other national forests.[33] | ||
| Coconino | Arizona 34.75°N -144°W | 18522011NaN1 | The San Francisco Peaks, Mogollon Rim, and Oak Creek Canyon can be found in Coconino National Forest. The forest's Sycamore Canyon is the second largest canyon in Arizona's redrock country. The forest also contains Humphreys Peak, which at 12637feet is the highest point in Arizona.[34] | ||
| Colville | Washington 48.5333°N -171°W | 9546681NaN1 | With 486miles of hiking trails, Colville National Forest has elevations that range up to 7300feet in the Kettle River and Selkirk mountains. Part of the Salmo-Priest Wilderness is in the forest along with part of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail.[35] | ||
| Conecuh | Alabama 31.0833°N -124°W | 839831NaN1 | Managed together with Alabama's other national forests, Conecuh has two areas designated for recreation: Blue Lake and Open Pond. The dry, sandy uplands support longleaf pine forest, while bottomlands have sinkhole ponds, springs, and swamps.[36] | ||
| Coronado | Arizona, New Mexico 32.5°N -150°W | 17189451NaN1 | Covering the sky islands of the Southwest, Coronado National Forest also includes Mount Wrightson and the birding destination of Madera Canyon. There are eight wilderness areas in the forest as well as observatories on Mount Hopkins and Mount Lemmon[37] | ||
| Croatan | North Carolina 34.8667°N -77°W | 1613251NaN1 | The only coastal National Forest on the east coast, Croatan includes estuaries and pocosins. The forest is home to carnivorous plants such as the Venus flytrap and pitcher plant. Cedar Point is a recreation area at the mouth of the White Oak River.[38] | ||
| Custer | Montana, South Dakota 45.5°N -106°W | 11894651NaN1 | Custer National Forest includes the Beartooth Highway and the Capitol Rock and the Castles National Natural Landmarks. The forest's Absaroka–Beartooth Wilderness includes Granite Peak, the highest point in Montana at 12807feet.[39] | ||
| Daniel Boone | Kentucky 37.2833°N -135°W | 5641681NaN1 | Encompassing part of the Cumberland Plateau and Appalachian Mountains, Daniel Boone National Forest has two wilderness areas and several reservoirs. Scenic areas include Cumberland Falls, Red River Gorge, Yahoo Arch and many caves.[40] | ||
| Davy Crockett | Texas 31.3°N -101°W | 1611401NaN1 | Located where the southeastern pine forests meet the blackland prairies of central Texas, Davy Crockett National Forest's Big Slough Wilderness consists primarily hardwood forest. A recreation area surrounds Ratcliff Lake, which covers 45acres.[41] | ||
| Delta | Mississippi 32.75°N -136°W | 621091NaN1 | Delta National Forest contains the only bottomland hardwood forest in the National Forest System, located in the floodplain of the Mississippi River. The forest includes the Green Ash-Overcup Oak-Sweetgum Research Natural Areas, which is a National Natural Landmark because it contains remnant bottomland old-growth forest.[42] | ||
| Deschutes | Oregon 43.8333°N -153°W | 16122181NaN1 | On the east side of the Cascade Range, Deschutes National Forest includes Newberry National Volcanic Monument and five wilderness areas. Lava River Cave, at 5211feet long, is Oregon's longest lava tube.[43] | ||
| De Soto | Mississippi 31.0333°N -147°W | 5321001NaN1 | De Soto National Forest contains Mississippi's only wilderness areas: Black Creek and Leaf River. The Black Creek and Tuxachanie National Recreation Trails provide 60miles of hiking opportunities. Black Creek has been designated a National Wild and Scenic River for 21miles. | ||
| Dixie | Utah 38.25°N -141°W | 18856551NaN1 | Straddling the divide between the Great Basin and Colorado River, Dixie National Forest has elevations ranging from 2800feet near St. George to 11322feet on Boulder Mountain. Ashdown Gorge, Box-Death Hollow, Cottonwood Forest, and Pine Valley Mountain wilderness areas are in the forest.[44] | ||
| Eldorado | California 38.7833°N -139°W | 6950981NaN1 | In the Sierra Nevada, Eldorado National Forest has 611miles of fishable streams and 297 lakes and reservoirs. There are 349miles of trails and 2367miles of roads in the forest. The forest's Desolation Wilderness is the most visited wilderness area per acre in the country.[45] | ||
| El Yunque | Puerto Rico 18.2833°N -113°W | 286831NaN1 | The only tropical rainforest in the National Forest System, higher elevations of El Yunque National Forest receive nearly 200inches of rainfall per year. There are 240 tree species in the forest, 23 of which are endemic to the forest, being found nowhere else in the world.[46] [47] | ||
| Finger Lakes | New York 42.5167°N -123°W | 163521NaN1 | Located between Seneca and Cayuga lakes, Finger Lakes National Forest is one of the smallest national forests. The Gorge Trail enters a small gorge in the forest, and the North Country Trail crosses part of the forest.[48] | ||
| Fishlake | Utah 38.7°N -168°W | 14529691NaN1 | Located in south central Utah, Fishlake National Forest is named for Fish Lake, the state's largest natural mountain lake. The forest's Tushar Mountains reach their highest point at 12174feet on Delano Peak. The forest is home to Pando, a clonal colony of an individual male quaking aspen determined to be the largest and most dense organism ever found.[49] | ||
| Flathead | Montana 48.0167°N -161°W | 24135731NaN1 | Bordering Glacier National Park, Flathead is home to grizzly bears, bull trout, and Canada lynx. The forest manages four wilderness areas, including the Bob Marshall and Great Bear wildernesses.[50] | ||
| Francis Marion | South Carolina 33.1667°N -121°W | 2586731NaN1 | Francis Marion National Forest is home to 150miles of streams and a variety of wildlife, including the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. There are four wilderness areas in the forest, and it is managed together with Sumter National Forest.[51] | ||
| Fremont–Winema | Oregon 42.5667°N -172°W | 22537961NaN1 | Encompassing the Warner Mountains and bordering Crater Lake National Park, Fremont–Winema National Forest also includes the semi-arid areas of the Oregon Outback. The Gearhart Mountain Wilderness is near the center of the forest.[52] | ||
| Gallatin | Montana 45.25°N -111°W | 18497011NaN1 | Bordering the north side of Yellowstone National Park, Gallatin National Forest contains parts of both the Absaroka–Beartooth and Lee Metcalf wilderness areas. Quake Lake was formed on the Madison River when an earthquake launched a landslide across the river in 1959.[53] | ||
| George Washington & Jefferson | Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky 38.2°N -100°W | 17922091NaN1 | In the Appalachian Mountains, the highest point of the forest is Mount Rogers, also the highest point in Virginia at 5729feet in Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. There are 230000acres of old-growth forest here, and the Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail both run through the forest.[54] | ||
| Gifford Pinchot | Washington 46.1667°N -169°W | 13122741NaN1 | Gifford Pinchot National Forest includes Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and parts of seven wilderness areas. There are 1475miles of trails and 4104miles of roads in the forest.[55] | ||
| Gila | New Mexico 33.2833°N -128°W | 26583211NaN1 | The forest's Gila Wilderness was the world's first wilderness area and was proclaimed on June 3, 1924. The Catwalk National Recreation Trail travels up a narrow canyon for 1.1miles while following Whitewater Creek.[56] | ||
| Grand Mesa | Colorado 39.0833°N -161°W | 3459391NaN1 | In western Colorado, Grand Mesa National Forest covers part of Battlement Mesa and most of Grand Mesa, the largest flattop mountain in the world with an average elevation of 10500feet. There are over 300 lakes in the forest. It is managed together with Gunnison National Forest and Uncompahgre National Forest.[57] | ||
| Green Mountain | Vermont 43.3°N -73°W | 4084191NaN1 | In Vermont's Green Mountains, this forest includes eight wilderness areas. Among the 900miles of trails in the forest are the Appalachian Trail and two National Recreation Trails: Long and Robert Frost.[58] | ||
| Gunnison | Colorado 38.6833°N -147°W | 16665141NaN1 | Gunnison National Forest is located in the Rocky Mountains near Gunnison, Colorado. Among the seven wilderness areas in the forest are the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness. The Slumgullion Slide is a giant landslide due to the mineral montmorillonite. | ||
| Helena | Montana 46.55°N -124°W | 9823851NaN1 | The Continental Divide Trail travels almost 80miles through the forest, which surrounds Montana's capital city. The Elkhorn Mountains are the only Wildlife Management unit in the National Forest System.[59] | ||
| Hiawatha | Michigan 46.1667°N -126°W | 8984751NaN1 | Located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Hiawatha National Forest borders Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron. The forest is home to Grand Island National Recreation Area and five wilderness areas.[60] | ||
| Holly Springs | Mississippi 34.5667°N -107°W | 1562431NaN1 | In north-central Mississippi, Holly Springs National Forest has small lakes in upland forests and unique bottomlands. Chewalla and Puskus recreation areas surround the namesake lakes and have boat launches. | ||
| Homochitto | Mississippi 31.4333°N -146°W | 1922371NaN1 | Located in southern Mississippi, this forest is named for the Homochitto River, meaning "Big Red River." Most of the forest is densely forested hills, but there are recreation facilities at Pipes Lake, Clear Springs, and Mount Nebo. | ||
| Hoosier | Indiana 38.5167°N -117°W | 2036271NaN1 | The Pioneer Mothers Memorial Forest is 88acres of old-growth forest in Hoosier National Forest. The forest's Charles C. Deam Wilderness is Indiana's only wilderness area.[61] | ||
| Humboldt–Toiyabe | Nevada, California 40.3833°N -148°W | 62909451NaN1 | As the largest national forest outside of Alaska, Humboldt–Toiyabe occupies many of the mountains of Nevada's Basin and Range Province. Spring Mountains National Recreation Area is located near Las Vegas and is part of the forest.[62] | ||
| Huron–Manistee | Michigan 44.55°N -135°W | 9751301NaN1 | Loda Lake National Wildflower Sanctuary is located around a small spring-fed lake in the forest. The Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness has sand dunes up to 140feet high along Lake Michigan.[63] | ||
| Idaho Panhandle Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe, Kaniksu | Idaho, Montana, Washington 47.7167°N -129°W | 30744381NaN1 | There are two wilderness areas, Cabinet Mountains and Salmo-Priest, and numerous recreation opportunities in Idaho Panhandle National Forest. This forest ranges from the Canada–US border to the Saint Joe River, which is the highest navigable river in the world.[64] | ||
| Inyo | California, Nevada 37.5°N -157°W | 19572641NaN1 | Located in the Sierra Nevada, Inyo includes Mono Lake, bristlecone pines, the Long Valley Caldera, nine wilderness areas, and Mount Whitney, which at 14505feet is the highest point in the United States outside of Alaska.[65] | ||
| Kaibab | Arizona 35.9333°N -121°W | 15610601NaN1 | Located on the Colorado Plateau to both the north and south of Grand Canyon National Park, elevations in Kaibab National Forest reach 10418feet on Kendrick Mountain in the Kendrick Mountain Wilderness. There are over 300miles of trails in the forest, including through the Kanab Creek Wilderness.[66] | ||
| Kisatchie | Louisiana 31°N -129°W | 6075401NaN1 | Kisatchie is Louisiana's only national forest, covering old-growth pine forest and bald cypress groves in the bayous. There are 48 mammal species, 56 reptiles, 30 amphibians, and 155 breeding or overwintering birds in this forest.[67] | ||
| Klamath | California, Oregon 41.5°N -131°W | 16724421NaN1 | Straddling the California–Oregon border, this forest has part of five wilderness areas, 152miles of wild and scenic rivers, and 200miles of rivers for rafting, including on the Klamath River. The Siskiyou mariposa lily is endemic to the forest, being found nowhere else in the world.[68] | ||
| Kootenai | Montana, Idaho 48.5333°N -141°W | 18103611NaN1 | Kootenai includes the Cabinet Mountains and the Kootenay and Clark Fork rivers. The Noxon and Cabinet Gorge reservoirs are on the Clark Fork within the forest. The Northwest Peak Scenic Area is in the Selkirk Mountains.[69] | ||
| Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit | California, Nevada 38.9167°N -177°W | 1520081NaN1 | The Forest Service lands surrounding Lake Tahoe are managed by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, which was created in April 1973 in order to protect the lake's unique ecological and recreational values.[70] [71] | ||
| Land Between The Lakes | Kentucky, Tennessee 36.7775°N -88.0631°W | 1712511NaN1 | Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area is located in Western Kentucky and Tennessee, and encompasses over 170,000 acres of forests, wetlands, and open lands on the largest inland peninsula in the United States. It is located between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.[72] | ||
| Lassen | California 40.0833°N -135°W | 10660271NaN1 | Surrounding Lassen Volcanic National Park, this forest has three wilderness areas and 92000acres of old-growth Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forests. Subway Cave is a lava tube that is 0.3miles long and open to the public.[73] | ||
| Lewis and Clark | Montana 46.9167°N -148°W | 18714901NaN1 | Located in north-central Montana, this forest includes seven mountain ranges and large portions of the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat wilderness areas. The forest operates the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls.[74] | ||
| Lincoln | New Mexico 32.95°N -131°W | 10954701NaN1 | With portions of four mountain ranges, the Capitan, Guadalupe, Sacramento, and Sierra Blanca, elevations range from 4000feet to 11500feet in Lincoln National Forest. The forest was the birthplace of Smokey Bear.[75] | ||
| Lolo | Montana 47.15°N -140°W | 22379611NaN1 | Located west of the Continental Divide and containing parts of four wilderness areas, this forest has 700miles of trails and over 100 named lakes. There are at least 20 fish species, 60 mammals, 300 birds, and 1,500 plants in the forest.[76] | ||
| Los Padres | California 34.5333°N -165°W | 17722371NaN1 | Encompassing portions of the California Coast and Transverse ranges of central California, Los Padres has ten wilderness areas covering about 48% of the forest. There are 1257miles of trails and part of the Jacinto Reyes National Scenic Byway.[77] | ||
| Malheur | Oregon 44.25°N -169°W | 14808181NaN1 | In the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, Malheur National Forest's highest point is Strawberry Mountain at 9038feet. The Cedar Grove Botanical Area contains the only stand of Alaska yellow cedar east of the Cascade Range in the United States.[78] | ||
| Manti–La Sal | Utah, Colorado 38.3833°N -110°W | 12699841NaN1 | Including the La Sal and Abajo mountains of eastern Utah, elevations in this forest reach 12721feet on Mount Peale. The Dark Canyon Wilderness is the only wilderness area in the forest.[79] | ||
| Mark Twain | Missouri 37°N -121°W | 15048811NaN1 | Missouri's only national forest, Mark Twain contains seven wilderness areas and the Eleven Point National Wild and Scenic River. There are 19 natural areas in the forest that are managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation.[80] | ||
| Medicine Bow–Routt | Colorado, Wyoming 41.2333°N -121°W | 22103271NaN1 | This forest contains many ranges of the Rocky Mountains with elevations ranging from 5500feet to 12940feet. There are ten wilderness areas and Rob Roy Reservoir, which covers 500acres.[81] | ||
| Mendocino | California 39.6333°N -173°W | 9155321NaN1 | Mendocino is the only national forest in California not crossed by a paved highway. The forest's Genetic Resource and Conservation Center produces plants for reforestation, watershed restoration, wildlife recovery, and other projects.[82] | ||
| Modoc | California 41.5667°N -173°W | 16804051NaN1 | Modoc National Forest contains the Medicine Lake Volcano, which has an elevation of 7921feet and is the largest shield volcano in North America. There are 43400acres of old-growth forest here along with Mill Creek Falls in the South Warner Wilderness.[83] | ||
| Monongahela | West Virginia 38.55°N -133°W | 9205831NaN1 | Monongahela National Forest includes Spruce Knob–Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area and eight wilderness areas. Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia at 4863feet, and Seneca Rocks is a 900feet quartzite crag.[84] | ||
| Mount Baker–Snoqualmie | Washington 48.4667°N -146°W | 25629551NaN1 | In the Cascade Range, this forest includes Mount Baker, at an elevation of 10781feet, a glaciated stratovolcano. Mount Baker National Recreation Area, the Pacific Crest Trail, Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail, and portions of ten wilderness areas are in the forest.[85] | ||
| Mount Hood | Oregon 45.2667°N -170°W | 10694271NaN1 | This forest is named for and contains Mount Hood, the highest point in Oregon at 11249feet. The forest stretches from the Columbia River Gorge and includes Mount Hood National Recreation Area and nine wilderness areas.[86] | ||
| Nantahala | North Carolina 35.2°N -116°W | 5323001NaN1 | In southwestern North Carolina, this forest includes the Nantahala Gorge and Nantahala River. There are 600miles of trails in the forest with elevations ranging from 1200feet to 5800feet on Lone Bald. | ||
| Nebraska | Nebraska 41.7°N -122°W | 1408131NaN1 | This forest was created in 1902 by Charles E. Bessey as an experiment to see if a forest could be created in treeless areas of the Great Plains for use as a national timber reserve. The Bessey Nursery is located in the northwest corner of the forest's Bessey Ranger District.[87] | ||
| Nez Perce | Idaho 45.45°N -170°W | 22235861NaN1 | Nez Perce National Forest includes parts of four wilderness areas: Frank Church–River of No Return, Gospel Hump, Hells Canyon, and Selway–Bietterroot. This forest is managed together with Clearwater National Forest.[88] | ||
| Ocala | Florida 29.2°N -125°W | 3846931NaN1 | Ocala protects the world's largest sand pine scrub forest. There are more than 600 lakes, rivers, and springs in the forest along with four wilderness areas. There are over 600 lakes and part of the Florida Trail in the forest.[89] | ||
| Ochoco | Oregon 44.3667°N -127°W | 8548171NaN1 | Ochoco National Forest contains a variety of odd geological formations, 95000acres of old-growth forest, the headwaters of the Crooked River, and three wilderness areas. Stein's Pillar is a 350feet tall rock column in the Ochoco Mountains. | ||
| Okanogan-Wenatchee | Washington 48.6333°N -154°W | 4255572acres | Located on the eastern side of the Cascade Range, this forest stretches from the Canada–US border to the Columbia and Okanogan rivers. There are 1285miles of trails in the forest, including part of the Pacific Crest Trail.[90] | ||
| Olympic | Washington 48.1167°N -139°W | 6318081NaN1 | Olympic National Forest surrounds Olympic National Park on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. There are five wilderness areas, occupying about 14% of the forest. This part of Washington receives more rainfall annually than anywhere else in the United States.[91] | ||
| Osceola | Florida 30.3167°N -109°W | 1601921NaN1 | The Big Gum Swamp Wilderness is the forest's only wilderness area, and the Osceola Research Natural Area was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974. The Civil War Battle of Olustee occurred in what is now the forest, and 23miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail pass through the forest.[92] | ||
| Ottawa | Michigan 46.45°N -104°W | 9909611NaN1 | Located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Ottawa National Forest stretches from Lake Superior to the Wisconsin border. There are 500 named lakes, nearly 2000miles of streams, and three wilderness areas in the forest.[93] | ||
| Ouachita | Arkansas, Oklahoma 34.6333°N -98°W | 17854681NaN1 | Including the namesake Ouachita Mountains, this forest has nearly 800000acres of old-growth forest. The forest has two wilderness areas: Black Fork Mountain and Upper Kiamichi River.[94] | ||
| Ozark–St. Francis | Arkansas 35.7°N -114°W | 11533741NaN1 | Ozark–St. Francis National Forest has more than 400miles of trails, including the Ozark Highlands Trail. Blanchard Springs Caverns is a three level cave system that is open for public tours.[95] | ||
| Payette | Idaho 45.0833°N -163°W | 23267791NaN1 | Payette National Forest includes the Seven Devils Mountains and part of the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness. It also borders Hells Canyon to the west and contains the Brundage Mountain ski area.[96] | ||
| Pike | Colorado 39.1667°N -132°W | 10961461NaN1 | Pike National Forest includes Pikes Peak at an elevation of 14115feet and three wilderness areas. Since 1975 the forest has been managed together with San Isabel National Forest.[97] | ||
| Pisgah | North Carolina 35.8°N -102°W | 5092831NaN1 | Elevations in Pisgah National Forest reach over 6000feet, and there are 46600acres of old-growth forests, including 10000acres in Linville Gorge. There are three wilderness areas in the forest: Linville Gorge, Middle Prong, and Shining Rock. | ||
| Plumas | California 39.9333°N -169°W | 11895541NaN1 | There are 127000acres of old-growth forest in Plumas National Forest.[98] The Little Grass Valley Recreation Area surrounds Little Grass Valley Reservoir and includes a campground and boat launch, among other facilities and services.[99] | ||
| Prescott | Arizona 34.5833°N -148°W | 12570051NaN1 | Vegetation in Prescott National Forest ranges from that characteristic of the Sonoran Desert at lower elevations to Ponderosa pine at higher elevations. There are eight wilderness areas and 450miles of trails in the forest[100] | ||
| Rio Grande | Colorado 37.7167°N -143°W | 18376611NaN1 | The headwaters of the Rio Grande are in the San Juan Mountains in the western part of the forest, while the Sangre de Cristo Mountains form the eastern boundary. Elevations reach 14345feet at the summit of Blanca Peak, overlooking the San Luis Valley and Great Sand Dunes National Park.[101] | ||
| Rogue River–Siskiyou | Oregon, California 41.9667°N -131°W | 17188931NaN1 | This forest ranges from the Cascade Range to the Siskiyou Mountains, and the Rogue River drains over 75% of the forest's area. There are parts of eight wilderness areas in the forest as well as what may be the world's tallest pine tree, a ponderosa pine that is 268.35feet tall.[102] [103] | ||
| Roosevelt | Colorado 40.5333°N -140°W | 8140901NaN1 | Located in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado, Roosevelt National Forest has part of six wilderness areas. It is managed together with Arapaho National Forest and Pawnee National Grassland. | ||
| Sabine | Texas 31.5°N -145°W | 1610881NaN1 | Sabine National Forest borders the western side of Toledo Bend Reservoir and has 28miles of trails. The forest's only wilderness area is the Indian Mounds Wilderness. Old-growth forest can be found in the wilderness and at Mill Creek Cove along the reservoir's shores. | ||
| Salmon–Challis | Idaho 45.1167°N -123°W | 42269731NaN1 | Salmon–Challis National Forest includes parts of both the Salmon River and the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness. Idaho's highest point, Borah Peak at 12662feet, is located in the Lost River Range in the forest.[104] | ||
| Sam Houston | Texas 30.5333°N -116°W | 1632641NaN1 | Part of the Lone Star Trail travels through Sam Houston National Forest, which borders parts of Lake Conroe and Lake Livingston. The Little Lake Creek Wilderness is the only wilderness area in the forest. | ||
| Samuel R. McKelvie | Nebraska 42.7167°N -103°W | 1158471NaN1 | Located in the Sandhills of Nebraska, Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest is a combination of prairie and trees planted since 1903, of which ponderosa pine has been most successful. | ||
| San Bernardino | California 34.05°N -173°W | 6789801NaN1 | San Bernardino National Forest includes part of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. The forest surrounds Lake Arrowhead and other reservoirs.[105] | ||
| San Isabel | Colorado 38.4°N -161°W | 11086391NaN1 | There are 19 of Colorado's 54 fourteeners in San Isabel National Forest, including the highest point, Mount Elbert at 14440feet. The forest includes the Sawatch Range, Collegiate Peaks, and Sangre de Cristo Range and is managed together with Pike National Forest. | ||
| San Juan | Colorado 37.5°N -146°W | 18645951NaN1 | San Juan National Forest includes Chimney Rock National Monument and elevations that range from 5000feet to over 14000feet. The forest's Weminuche Wilderness is the largest in Colorado at 499771acres.[106] | ||
| Santa Fe | New Mexico 35.9°N -119°W | 15447481NaN1 | Santa Fe National Forest's highest point is Truchas Peak at 13103feet in the Pecos Wilderness. There are 1002miles of trails in the forest, which includes the Valles Caldera National Preserve.[107] | ||
| Sawtooth | Idaho, Utah 41.9°N -142°W | 18021331NaN1 | Sawtooth National Forest includes over 1,100 lakes, 1000miles of trails and roads, and ten mountain ranges, with the highest point at 12009feet on Hyndman Peak. The forest includes Sawtooth National Recreation Area, the Sawtooth Range, Sawtooth Wilderness, four ski areas, and four endemic species, being found nowhere else in the world.[108] | ||
| Sequoia | California 36.05°N -149°W | 11392401NaN1 | Sequoia National Forest includes Giant Sequoia National Monument, both named for the giant sequoia, the largest tree species in the world. There are 2500miles of maintained and abandoned roads and 850miles of trails in the forest, including the Pacific Crest Trail.[109] | ||
| Shasta–Trinity | California 41.1333°N -134°W | 22292861NaN1 | There are 6278miles of streams in the forest, and elevations range from 1000feet to 14179feet on Mount Shasta. Five wilderness areas and 460miles of trails can be found in the forest.[110] | ||
| Shawnee | Illinois 37.5°N -136°W | 2734821NaN1 | As Illinois's only national forest, Shawnee is located in the southern part of the state and contains seven wilderness areas, including the Garden of the Gods. Among the many miles of hiking trails in the forest is the River to River Trail, which is 160miles long.[111] | ||
| Shoshone | Wyoming 44.0333°N -141°W | 24390931NaN1 | Located in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, this forest includes part of the Absaroka, Beartooth, and Wind River mountain ranges. Five wilderness areas make up 56% of the forest, and elevations reach 13804feet at Gannett Peak, the highest point in Wyoming.[112] | ||
| Sierra | California 37.2667°N -131°W | 13112311NaN1 | Sierra National Forest is located on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada and elevations reach 13986feet. There are 1800miles of streams, 480 lakes, 11 reservoirs, and 63 campgrounds in the forest.[113] | ||
| Siuslaw | Oregon 44.5333°N -176°W | 6302911NaN1 | Siuslaw National Forest includes Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, three wilderness areas, and Cascade Head Scenic Research Area among the Central Oregon Coast Range. Marys Peak Scenic Botanical Area includes Marys Peak, which at 4097feet is the forest's highest point.[114] | ||
| Six Rivers | California 40.35°N -159°W | 9770901NaN1 | Six Rivers National Forest was named for the Smith, Klamath, Trinity, Mad, Van Duzen, and Eel rivers. The forest includes the Salmon River system, all of which has been designated a National Wild and Scenic River.[115] | ||
| Stanislaus | California 38.1667°N -121°W | 8994271NaN1 | Stanislaus National Forest has over 800miles of streams and four wilderness areas, including the Carson–Iceberg Wilderness. The Emigrant Wilderness borders the northwest corner of Yosemite National Park.[116] | ||
| Sumter | South Carolina 34°N -97°W | 3727781NaN1 | Sumter National Forest contains 22 waterfalls with drops ranging from 12feet to 150feet and part of the Ellicott Rock Wilderness, the only wilderness located in three states. | ||
| Superior | Minnesota 47.8333°N -122°W | 20935901NaN1 | Superior National Forest includes the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which has over 1500miles of canoe routes, 1,000 lakes, and 2,200 designated campsites. Eagle Mountain, the highest point in Minnesota at 2301feet, is also in the forest.[117] | ||
| Tahoe | California 39.3833°N -152°W | 8729811NaN1 | Tahoe National Forest is in the Sierra Nevada northwest of Lake Tahoe. Part of the Granite Chief Wilderness is within the forest. The Middle Fork of the American, Yuba, and North Yuba rivers cross or border the forest.[118] | ||
| Talladega | Alabama 33.4333°N -136°W | 3930061NaN1 | Talladega National Forest includes the Cheaha and Dugger Mountain wilderness areas. The Talladega Scenic Byway and Pinhoti National Recreation Trail cross the forest. Talladega is managed together with Alabama's other national forests. | ||
| Tombigbee | Mississippi 33.9333°N -144°W | 674681NaN1 | Located in northeastern Mississippi, Tombigbee National Forest covers rolling hills that were abandoned farmland before the forest was established. It is managed together with Mississippi's other national forests. | ||
| Tongass | Alaska 56.8°N -187°W | 167483601NaN1 | The largest national forest, Tongass spans 500miles in southeast Alaska from the Canada–US border to the Pacific Ocean. Nearly one-third of the forest is covered by 19 wilderness areas. The forest includes Misty Fjords and Admiralty Island National Monuments.[119] | ||
| Tonto | Arizona 33.8667°N -128°W | 28666631NaN1 | Tonto National Forest stretches from the Sonoran Desert to the pine forests at the Mogollon Rim. There are eight wilderness areas and several lakes and reservoirs in the forest[120] | ||
| Tuskegee | Alabama 32.4667°N -121°W | 113491NaN1 | Tuskegee National Forest's Bartram National Recreation Trail was Alabama's first National Recreation Trail. Tuskegee is one of the smallest national forests and is managed together with Alabama's other national forests. | ||
| Uinta–Wasatch–Cache | Utah, Wyoming, Idaho 41.25°N -137°W | 24924041NaN1 | There are nine wilderness areas in the forest, which occupies part of the Wasatch and Uinta mountains. Mount Nebo and Mount Timpanogos are located in wilderness areas at the edge of the Wasatch Front.[121] | ||
| Umatilla | Oregon, Washington 45.6333°N -129°W | 14058981NaN1 | Located in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon, Umatilla National Forest includes three wilderness areas, occupying over 20% of the forest. The forest has over 715miles of trails, 2000miles of roads, and one of the largest elk herds of any National Forest.[122] | ||
| Umpqua | Oregon 43.2167°N -157°W | 9861201NaN1 | Umpqua National Forest is in the Cascade Range of southwestern Oregon and includes three wilderness areas. Watson Falls is a waterfall that is 272feet high on Watson Creek, a tributary of the Clearwater River.[123] | ||
| Uncompahgre | Colorado 38.2667°N -115°W | 9517671NaN1 | The northern portion of the San Juan Mountains and the Uncompahgre Plateau are located in this national forest. The forest also contains Uncompahgre Gorge and three wilderness areas. | ||
| Uwharrie | North Carolina 35.4°N -135°W | 512181NaN1 | Uwharrie National Forest borders the eastern side of Badin Lake and has one wilderness area: the Birkhead Mountains Wilderness. The forest is managed together with North Carolina's other national forests. | ||
| Wallowa-Whitman | Oregon, Idaho 45.2167°N -148°W | 22614801NaN1 | Wallowa-Whitman National Forest stretches from the Blue Mountains to the Snake River. Elevations range from 875feet in Hells Canyon, the deepest gorge in North America, to 9845feet at the summit of Sacajawea Peak in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area.[124] | ||
| Wayne | Ohio 39.1667°N -107°W | 2431801NaN1 | Ohio's only national forest, Wayne is located in the Appalachian foothills and has over 300miles of trails. The North Country Trail passes through several sections of the forest.[125] | ||
| White Mountain | New Hampshire, Maine 44.15°N -96°W | 7616871NaN1 | This national forest is located in the White Mountains, which the Appalachian Trail and White Mountain Scenic Byway pass through. The forest includes Mount Washington, which at 6288feet is the highest point in the Northeast and the location of the fastest wind speed recorded on earth, although the summit is located in a state park.[126] | ||
| White River | Colorado 39.5667°N -159°W | 22874951NaN1 | White River National Forest has eight wilderness areas, twelve ski resorts, four large reservoirs, 2500miles of trails, 1900miles of roads, and ten peaks higher than 14000feet in elevation.[127] | ||
| Willamette | Oregon 44.1167°N -133°W | 16816741NaN1 | Willamette National Forest is in the Cascade Range, stretching from Mount Jefferson to Mount Washington. About 20% of the forest is designated wilderness, but there are also 6000miles of roads in the forest.[128] | ||
| William B. Bankhead | Alabama 34.2333°N -107°W | 1819881NaN1 | This forest contains 153miles of trails and the Sipsey Wilderness, which at 24922acres is the largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River. It is managed together with Alabama's other national forests. | ||