List of national forests of the United States facts for kids

The United States has 154 special areas called national forests. These forests cover a huge area, about 188 million acres (760,000 square kilometers). The U.S. Forest Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, takes care of them.

The very first national forest was created on March 30, 1891. It was called the Yellowstone Park Timber and Land Reserve. At first, these areas were set aside to protect timber, prevent too much development, and keep water supplies safe. Later, in 1905, the U.S. Forest Service was formed to manage them.

By 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt had more than doubled the size of these forest lands! Over time, the goals for managing national forests grew. Now, they are also used for outdoor fun, grazing animals, timber, protecting water, and helping wildlife and fish. They also include special "wilderness areas" where nature is left untouched.

As of 2014, the Forest Service manages over 192 million acres (780,000 square kilometers) in total. This includes the national forests, plus 20 national grasslands and other protected lands. It's a big system with a long history!

Almost every state in the U.S. has at least one national forest. Only ten states do not. Alaska has the most national forest land, followed by California and Idaho. Idaho also has the largest percentage of its land covered by national forests, with 38.2 percent. In the eastern U.S., national forests often include areas where only some of the land is owned by the Forest Service.

Map of national forests and national grasslands of the United States

Exploring U.S. National Forests

Here's a look at some of the amazing national forests across the United States:

Name	Photo	Location	Date formed	Area (acres)	What makes it special
Allegheny	A photo of Allegheny Reservoir in fall	Pennsylvania	September 24, 1923	513,655	Pennsylvania's only national forest. It has the state's largest area of very old trees. You can also find part of the North Country Trail here.
Angeles	A photo of the San Gabriel Mountains	California	December 20, 1892	661,565	Close to Los Angeles, this forest is in the San Gabriel Mountains. It has five special wilderness areas and lots of dense chaparral plants.
Angelina	A photo of a ranger station in Angelina National Forest.	Texas	October 13, 1936	154,140	This forest is mostly pine trees. It's home to the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and is a winter home for bald eagles.
Apache–Sitgreaves	A photo of the highlands from route 191 in Arizona in Apache–Sitgreaves National Forest	Arizona, New Mexico	August 17, 1898	2,626,306	This forest has 34 lakes and over 680 miles (1,094 km) of rivers. That's more water than any other national forest in the dry Southwest!
Apalachicola	A photo of an artificial pond off of FH-111 in Apalachicola National Forest.	Florida	May 13, 1936	576,119	Florida's biggest national forest. It has over 2,700 acres (1,093 ha) of water and part of the Florida Trail. You can find caverns and sinkholes here.
Arapaho	A photo of aspens in fall along the Crooked Creek Road	Colorado	October 24, 1903	720,418	Located high in the Rocky Mountains. It has six wilderness areas. The highest paved road in North America goes through this forest, up Mount Blue Sky.
Ashley	A photo of King's Peak and Henry's Fork Basin.	Utah, Wyoming	July 1, 1908	1,378,424	This forest manages the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. Kings Peak, Utah's highest point, is found here.
Beaverhead–Deerlodge	A photo of a stream and mountains in Beaverhead–Deerlodge National Forest.	Montana	July 1, 1908	3,362,638	Montana's largest national forest. It includes parts of the Continental Divide Trail and the Nez Perce National Historic Trail.
Bienville	A photo of a forest sign in Bienville National Forest	Mississippi	June 15, 1936	180,251	In central Mississippi, this forest has lakes and Harrell Prairie, the state's largest undisturbed prairie. It also has very old pine trees.
Bighorn	A mountain meadow in Bighorn National Forest.	Wyoming	February 22, 1897	1,105,311	In the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming. It has many trails and lodges. Cloud Peak, the highest point, has a glacier.
Bitterroot	A photo of Lake Como and mountains	Montana, Idaho	February 22, 1897	1,594,579	Located in the Bitterroot and Sapphire mountains. It's named after the bitterroot plant.
Black Hills	A photo of the Black Hills in the Black Elk Wilderness with Horsethief Lake.	South Dakota, Wyoming	February 22, 1897	1,250,866	Mostly made of Ponderosa pine trees. It has 11 reservoirs and over 1,300 miles (2,092 km) of streams. Black Elk Peak is the highest point in South Dakota.
Boise	A photo of rocks along a river in Boise National Forest.	Idaho	July 1, 1908	2,648,273	This forest has over 7,600 miles (12,231 km) of streams and more than 250 lakes. It's a great place for water activities.
Bridger–Teton	Wind River Range approaching the Lozier Lakes	Wyoming	February 22, 1897	3,383,302	Part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. It has 27 glaciers in the Wind River Range.
Caribou–Targhee	Upper Mesa Falls	Idaho, Wyoming	May 23, 1905	2,624,739	This forest has many caves and protects grizzly bear homes. You can see the beautiful Upper and Lower Mesa Falls here.
Carson	A photo of Wheeler Peak from Mount Walter	New Mexico	November 7, 1906	1,486,372	In the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It has over 600 miles (966 km) of trails and the Taos Ski Valley. Wheeler Peak is New Mexico's highest point.
Chattahoochee–Oconee	A photo of a waterfall along the Raven Cliffs Trail	Georgia	July 9, 1936	866,763	This forest has 430 miles (692 km) of trails, including the start of the Appalachian Trail. Georgia's highest point, Brasstown Bald, is here.
Chequamegon–Nicolet	A photo of a lake and coniferous forests.	Wisconsin	March 2, 1933	1,523,704	This forest is full of water with 2,020 lakes and 440 spring ponds. It also has 347,000 acres (140,426 ha) of wetlands.
Cherokee	South Fork of Citico Creek in the Citico Creek Wilderness.	Tennessee, North Carolina	June 14, 1920	656,394	It has eleven wilderness areas and over 600 miles (966 km) of trails. A large part of the Appalachian Trail runs through it.
Chippewa	A trail	Minnesota	May 23, 1908	671,952	With 1,300 lakes and ponds, this forest is great for boating and fishing. It's home to many bald eagles, Canada lynx, and sandhill cranes.
Chugach	Lost Lake and mountains.	Alaska	July 23, 1907	5,419,095	The third largest national forest. Over half of this huge forest is tundra and glaciers! Many streams have salmon and trout.
Cibola	View of a ridge from the Sandia Crest Trail.	New Mexico	November 6, 1906	1,616,435	It includes four wilderness areas, like the Sandia Mountain Wilderness near Albuquerque. You can find a stratovolcano here, Mount Taylor.
Clearwater	The Lochsa River.	Idaho	July 1, 1908	1,682,068	This forest covers mountains and prairies. The Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled through here in 1805.
Cleveland	Cleveland National Forest near Mount Laguna.	California	February 25, 1893	425,580	In southern California, it has a Mediterranean climate. Twenty-two endangered plant and animal species live here.
Coconino	Sycamore Canyon viewed from Barney Pasture.	Arizona	August 17, 1898	1,852,201	You can find the San Francisco Peaks and Oak Creek Canyon here. Sycamore Canyon is Arizona's second largest canyon. Humphreys Peak is Arizona's highest point.
Colville	Colville National Forest with a lake and mountains.	Washington	March 1, 1907	954,668	It has 486 miles (782 km) of hiking trails. Part of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail is in this forest.
Conecuh	Open Pond and pine trees.	Alabama	July 17, 1936	83,983	This forest has longleaf pine trees and areas with sinkhole ponds and swamps. Blue Lake and Open Pond are popular recreation spots.
Coronado	Mountains and forest west of Paradise, Arizona.	Arizona, New Mexico	April 11, 1902	1,718,945	It covers "sky islands" in the Southwest. It has eight wilderness areas and observatories on Mount Hopkins and Mount Lemmon.
Croatan	Swamp along the Patsy Pond Nature Trail.	North Carolina	July 29, 1936	161,325	The only coastal National Forest on the East Coast. It's home to cool carnivorous plants like the Venus flytrap and pitcher plant.
Custer	A mountain goat below Granite Peak.	Montana, South Dakota	March 2, 1907	1,189,465	It includes the Beartooth Highway. Granite Peak, Montana's highest point, is in this forest.
Daniel Boone	The forest viewed from Tater Knob.	Kentucky	February 23, 1937	564,168	Part of the Cumberland Plateau and Appalachian Mountains. It has beautiful places like Cumberland Falls and Red River Gorge.
Davy Crockett	Ratcliff Lake.	Texas	October 13, 1936	161,140	Where pine forests meet prairies. It has the Big Slough Wilderness, which is mostly hardwood trees. Ratcliff Lake is a popular recreation area.
Delta	A sign for Sunflower Wildlife Management Area in Delta National Forest.	Mississippi	January 12, 1961	62,109	This forest has the only bottomland hardwood forest in the National Forest System. It's located in the Mississippi River floodplain.
Deschutes	View to the northeast across Lava Lake with three volcanic mountains in the background: South Sister, Broken Top, and Mount Bachelor.	Oregon	July 1, 1908	1,612,218	On the east side of the Cascade Range. It includes Newberry National Volcanic Monument and Oregon's longest lava tube, Lava River Cave.
De Soto	Pine forest in De Soto.	Mississippi	June 17, 1936	532,100	It has Mississippi's only wilderness areas: Black Creek and Leaf River. Black Creek is a National Wild and Scenic River.
Dixie	Scenic Byway 12 in Red Canyon.	Utah	September 25, 1905	1,885,655	This forest spans between the Great Basin and Colorado River. It has four wilderness areas and beautiful red rock scenery.
Eldorado	Mountains and forest along the trail to Winnemucca Lake.	California	July 28, 1910	695,098	In the Sierra Nevada, it has 611 miles (983 km) of fishing streams and 297 lakes. Its Desolation Wilderness is one of the most visited wilderness areas.
El Yunque	Forested mountainsides in El Yunque.	Puerto Rico	January 17, 1903	28,683	The ONLY tropical rainforest in the National Forest System! It gets a lot of rain and has 240 tree species, 23 of which are found nowhere else.
Finger Lakes	Overlooking the hills, forest, and surrounding area in Finger Lakes National Forest.	New York	1983	16,352	One of the smallest national forests. It's located between Seneca and Cayuga lakes. Part of the North Country Trail crosses it.
Fishlake	Aspens during fall in the mountains of the Richfield Ranger District.	Utah	February 10, 1899	1,452,969	Named for Fish Lake, Utah's largest natural mountain lake. It's home to Pando, a huge group of aspen trees that is one of the largest organisms on Earth!
Flathead	Big Salmon Lake and the Bob Marshall Wilderness.	Montana	February 22, 1897	2,413,573	Next to Glacier National Park. It's home to grizzly bears, bull trout, and Canada lynx. It manages four wilderness areas.
Francis Marion	A trail through pine forest.	South Carolina	July 10, 1936	258,673	This forest has 150 miles (241 km) of streams and many types of wildlife, including the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.
Fremont–Winema	View from Drake Peak lookout	Oregon	September 17, 1906	2,253,796	It includes the Warner Mountains and borders Crater Lake National Park. It also has semi-arid areas of the Oregon Outback.
Gallatin	Mountains around Daisy Pass.	Montana	February 10, 1899	1,849,701	Borders the north side of Yellowstone National Park. Quake Lake was formed here by an earthquake in 1959.
George Washington & Jefferson	Forested mountains viewed from the White Rocks on Little Sluice Mountain.	Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky	May 16, 1918	1,792,209	In the Appalachian Mountains. It has 230,000 acres (93,078 ha) of old-growth forest. Both the Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail run through it.
Gifford Pinchot	Partially snow-covered Old Snowy Mountain.	Washington	July 1, 1908	1,312,274	It includes Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. There are 1,475 miles (2,374 km) of trails in this forest.
Gila	Mountains and valleys in Gila National Forest.	New Mexico	March 2, 1899	2,658,321	The Gila Wilderness here was the world's first wilderness area, created in 1924. The Catwalk National Recreation Trail is a cool path through a narrow canyon.
Grand Mesa	The northwestern edge of Grand Mesa from the south.	Colorado	July 1, 1908	345,939	Covers most of Grand Mesa, the largest flat-top mountain in the world. It has over 300 lakes.
Green Mountain	Trees in fall along a road near the Hapgood Pond Recreation Area.	Vermont	April 25, 1932	408,419	In Vermont's Green Mountains. It has eight wilderness areas and 900 miles (1,448 km) of trails, including part of the Appalachian Trail.
Gunnison	Mountains in spring along the Copper Lake Trail near Crested Butte.	Colorado	May 12, 1905	1,666,514	Located in the Rocky Mountains. It has seven wilderness areas, including part of the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness.
Helena	The York-Trout Creek Bridge over the Missouri River below mountains in Helena National Forest.	Montana	April 12, 1906	982,385	The Continental Divide Trail travels almost 80 miles (129 km) through this forest. It surrounds Montana's capital city.
Hiawatha	A forest sign along road M-28 in Hiawatha National Forest.	Michigan	January 16, 1931	898,475	In Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It borders Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron. It's home to Grand Island National Recreation Area.
Holly Springs	A cypress swamp in Holly Springs National Forest.	Mississippi	June 15, 1936	156,243	In north-central Mississippi. It has small lakes in upland forests and unique bottomlands. Chewalla and Puskus recreation areas are popular.
Homochitto	A sign for Homochitto National Forest.	Mississippi	July 20, 1936	192,237	Named for the Homochitto River, which means "Big Red River." Most of the forest is densely wooded hills.
Hoosier	A hazy fall day over the hills in Hoosier National Forest.	Indiana	October 1, 1961	203,627	The Pioneer Mothers Memorial Forest here has 88 acres (36 ha) of old-growth trees. The Charles C. Deam Wilderness is Indiana's only wilderness area.
Humboldt–Toiyabe	Aspen in Lamoille Canyon surrounded by mountains.	Nevada, California	May 3, 1906	6,290,945	The largest national forest outside of Alaska! It covers many mountains in Nevada. Spring Mountains National Recreation Area is near Las Vegas.
Huron–Manistee	Benton Lake and surrounding forests.	Michigan	July 30, 1928	975,130	Loda Lake National Wildflower Sanctuary is located here. The Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness has sand dunes up to 140 feet (43 m) high along Lake Michigan.
Idaho Panhandle	Revett Lake and surrounding mountains and forests from above.	Idaho, Montana, Washington	November 6, 1906	3,074,438	It has two wilderness areas and many fun outdoor activities. The Saint Joe River here is the highest navigable river in the world.
Inyo	Mount Whitney from the Whitney Portal Trailhead.	California, Nevada	May 25, 1907	1,957,264	In the Sierra Nevada. It has Mono Lake, ancient bristlecone pines, and Mount Whitney, the highest point in the U.S. outside of Alaska.
Kaibab	Aspens and a meadow in fall.	Arizona	July 1, 1908	1,561,060	Located on the Colorado Plateau, north and south of Grand Canyon National Park. It has over 300 miles (483 km) of trails.
Kisatchie	The Kisatchie Bayou.	Louisiana	June 10, 1930	607,540	Louisiana's only national forest. It has old-growth pine forests and bald cypress groves in the bayous. It's home to many types of animals and birds.
Klamath	A road through the forest.	California, Oregon	May 6, 1905	1,672,442	It has parts of five wilderness areas and 200 miles (322 km) of rivers for rafting. The Siskiyou mariposa lily, a rare flower, is found only here.
Kootenai	Snow-capped mountains in Kootenai National Forest.	Montana, Idaho	August 13, 1906	1,810,361	It includes the Cabinet Mountains and the Kootenay and Clark Fork rivers. The Northwest Peak Scenic Area is a beautiful spot.
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit	Lake Tahoe.	California, Nevada	April 1973	152,008	This unit manages the Forest Service lands around Lake Tahoe. It was created to protect the lake's special environment and recreation.
Land Between The Lakes	Scenic lake2	Kentucky, Tennessee	June 1963	171,251	This recreation area is between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. It's the largest inland peninsula in the U.S., with forests, wetlands, and open lands.
Lassen	Echo Lake.	California	June 2, 1905	1,066,027	It surrounds Lassen Volcanic National Park. It has three wilderness areas and 92,000 acres (37,231 ha) of old-growth forests. You can explore Subway Cave, a lava tube.
Lewis and Clark	A riding ranger with mules near the Chinese Wall.	Montana	February 22, 1897	1,871,490	In north-central Montana, it includes seven mountain ranges. It also has parts of the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat wilderness areas.
Lincoln	Partially forested mountains in Lincoln National Forest.	New Mexico	July 26, 1902	1,095,470	It has parts of four mountain ranges. This forest is famous as the birthplace of Smokey Bear!
Lolo	Rainy Lake and mountains.	Montana	September 20, 1906	2,237,961	West of the Continental Divide. It has 700 miles (1,127 km) of trails and over 100 lakes. Many different animals and plants live here.
Los Padres	Montane chaparral and mountains.	California	March 2, 1898	1,772,237	It covers parts of California's Coast and Transverse ranges. It has ten wilderness areas, covering almost half of the forest.
Malheur	Strawberry Lake and mountains in fall.	Oregon	July 1, 1908	1,480,818	In the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. It has a unique stand of Alaska yellow cedar trees.
Manti–La Sal	Mount Peale viewed from Mount Mellenthin.	Utah, Colorado	May 29, 1903	1,269,984	It includes the La Sal and Abajo mountains. Mount Peale is the highest point here. The Dark Canyon Wilderness is its only wilderness area.
Mark Twain	A kayaker on the St. Francis River.	Missouri	September 11, 1939	1,504,881	Missouri's only national forest. It has seven wilderness areas and the Eleven Point National Wild and Scenic River.
Medicine Bow–Routt	Mountains and grasslands surrounding a work center.	Colorado, Wyoming	May 22, 1902	2,210,327	This forest has many ranges of the Rocky Mountains. It includes ten wilderness areas.
Mendocino	Howard Lake and forested mountains.	California	July 1, 1908	915,532	The only national forest in California not crossed by a paved highway. It has a special center that grows plants for forest restoration.
Modoc	The summit trail and surrounding mountains.	California	November 29, 1904	1,680,405	It contains the Medicine Lake Volcano, a huge shield volcano. It also has 43,400 acres (17,563 ha) of old-growth forest.
Monongahela	Seneca Rock.	West Virginia	April 28, 1920	920,583	It includes Spruce Knob–Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area and eight wilderness areas. Spruce Knob is West Virginia's highest point.
Mount Baker–Snoqualmie	Table Mountain and its reflection in a lake	Washington	February 22, 1897	2,562,955	In the Cascade Range. It includes Mount Baker, a glaciated volcano. Parts of the Pacific Crest Trail and Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail are here.
Mount Hood	Mount Hood and its reflection in Mirror Lake.	Oregon	June 17, 1892	1,069,427	Named for and contains Mount Hood, Oregon's highest point. It stretches from the Columbia River Gorge and has nine wilderness areas.
Nantahala	Dry Falls.	North Carolina	February 6, 1907	532,300	In southwestern North Carolina. It includes the Nantahala Gorge and Nantahala River. It has 600 miles (966 km) of trails.
Nebraska	Forest and grasslands in the Bessey Ranger District.	Nebraska	April 16, 1902	140,813	This forest was created as an experiment to grow trees in treeless areas of the Great Plains.
Nez Perce	Crooked Creek in fall.	Idaho	July 1, 1908	2,223,586	It includes parts of four wilderness areas, like the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness.
Ocala	A pond in Farles Prairie.	Florida	November 24, 1908	384,693	It protects the world's largest sand pine scrub forest. It has over 600 lakes, rivers, and springs. Part of the Florida Trail is here.
Ochoco	Steins Pillar.	Oregon	July 1, 1911	854,817	It has many unique rock formations and 95,000 acres (38,445 ha) of old-growth forest. Stein's Pillar is a 350-foot (107 m) tall rock column.
Okanogan-Wenatchee	A lake and the surrounding mountains and forest viewed from Maple Pass.	Washington	July 1, 1911	4,255,572	On the eastern side of the Cascade Range. It has 1,285 miles (2,068 km) of trails, including part of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Olympic	Forests and the Olympic Mountains from Hurricane Ridge.	Washington	February 22, 1897	631,808	It surrounds Olympic National Park on the Olympic Peninsula. This area gets more rainfall than anywhere else in the U.S.!
Osceola	Pine forest with palmetto understory.	Florida	July 10, 1931	160,192	The Big Gum Swamp Wilderness is its only wilderness area. The Civil War Battle of Olustee happened here.
Ottawa	Pines along Kathryn Lake.	Michigan	January 27, 1931	990,961	In Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It has 500 named lakes and nearly 2,000 miles (3,219 km) of streams.
Ouachita	The view across Ouachita National Forest from atop the Standing Stairs Mountains.	Arkansas, Oklahoma	December 18, 1907	1,785,468	It includes the Ouachita Mountains and nearly 800,000 acres (323,749 ha) of old-growth forest.
Ozark–St. Francis	View of the Ozarks from atop White Rock Mountain.	Arkansas	March 5, 1908	1,153,374	It has over 400 miles (644 km) of trails, including the Ozark Highlands Trail. You can visit Blanchard Springs Caverns here.
Payette	The Seven Devils Mountains in winter.	Idaho	June 3, 1905	2,326,779	It includes the Seven Devils Mountains and borders Hells Canyon. It also has the Brundage Mountain ski area.
Pike	A lake and mountains in Pike National Forest.	Colorado	February 11, 1892	1,096,146	It includes Pikes Peak, a famous mountain. It has three wilderness areas and is managed with San Isabel National Forest.
Pisgah	Upper Creek Falls.	North Carolina	October 17, 1916	509,283	It has elevations over 6,000 feet (1,829 m) and 46,600 acres (18,858 ha) of old-growth forests. It includes three wilderness areas.
Plumas	Bucks Lake.	California	March 27, 1905	1,189,554	It has 127,000 acres (51,395 ha) of old-growth forest. The Little Grass Valley Recreation Area is a popular spot for camping and boating.
Prescott	A lake near Mingus Mountain.	Arizona	May 10, 1898	1,257,005	The plants here range from desert plants at lower elevations to Ponderosa pine trees higher up. It has eight wilderness areas and 450 miles (724 km) of trails.
Rio Grande	Mountains along the Stony Pass Road.	Colorado	July 1, 1908	1,837,661	The Rio Grande river starts here in the San Juan Mountains. Blanca Peak, a very high mountain, overlooks the San Luis Valley.
Rogue River–Siskiyou	The Rabbit Ears, a pair of spires, rise above the coniferous forest of the Rogue River–Siskiyou NF	Oregon, California	September 28, 1893	1,718,893	This forest stretches from the Cascade Range to the Siskiyou Mountains. It might have the world's tallest ponderosa pine tree!
Roosevelt	Mountains surrounding Lake Isabelle.	Colorado	May 22, 1902	814,090	Located in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado. It has parts of six wilderness areas and is managed with Arapaho National Forest.
Sabine	A sign for Sabine National Forest.	Texas	October 13, 1936	161,088	It borders the western side of Toledo Bend Reservoir. Its only wilderness area is the Indian Mounds Wilderness, which has old-growth forest.
Salmon–Challis	Borah Peak and the Lost River Range in winter.	Idaho	July 1, 1908	4,226,973	It includes parts of the Salmon River and the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness. Borah Peak, Idaho's highest point, is here.
Sam Houston	A hardwood swamp.	Texas	October 13, 1936	163,264	Part of the Lone Star Trail goes through this forest. It borders parts of Lake Conroe and Lake Livingston.
Samuel R. McKelvie	Grassland approaching the forest edge.	Nebraska	October 15, 1971	115,847	Located in the Sandhills of Nebraska. It's a mix of prairie and trees planted since 1903, mostly ponderosa pines.
San Bernardino	Mount Baldy viewed from Silverwood Lake.	California	February 25, 1893	678,980	It includes part of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. The forest surrounds Lake Arrowhead and other lakes.
San Isabel	A valley in the mountains of San Isabel National Forest.	Colorado	April 11, 1902	1,108,639	It has 19 of Colorado's 54 "fourteeners" (peaks over 14,000 feet/4,267 m), including Mount Elbert, the highest point.
San Juan	Mountains in San Juan National Forest.	Colorado	June 3, 1905	1,864,595	It includes Chimney Rock National Monument. Elevations here range from 5,000 feet (1,524 m) to over 14,000 feet (4,267 m).
Santa Fe	Aspens and snow-capped mountains in late fall.	New Mexico	January 11, 1892	1,544,748	Its highest point is Truchas Peak in the Pecos Wilderness. It has 1,002 miles (1,613 km) of trails and includes the Valles Caldera National Preserve.
Sawtooth	Stanley Lake and McGown Peak.	Idaho, Utah	May 29, 1905	1,802,133	It has over 1,100 lakes and 1,000 miles (1,609 km) of trails. It includes the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and four ski areas.
Sequoia	Giant sequoias.	California	July 1, 1908	1,139,240	It includes Giant Sequoia National Monument, named for the giant sequoia, the largest tree species in the world!
Shasta–Trinity	The Trinity Alps near Granite Lake.	California	April 26, 1905	2,229,286	It has 6,278 miles (10,103 km) of streams. Elevations range from 1,000 feet (305 m) to 14,179 feet (4,322 m) on Mount Shasta.
Shawnee	The Garden of the Gods at sunset.	Illinois	September 6, 1939	273,482	Illinois's only national forest. It has seven wilderness areas, including the famous Garden of the Gods.
Shoshone	Pingora Peak and Lonesome Lake.	Wyoming	March 30, 1891	2,439,093	Located in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Five wilderness areas make up 56% of this forest. Gannett Peak is Wyoming's highest point.
Sierra	Lake of the Lone Indian and surrounding mountains.	California	February 14, 1893	1,311,231	On the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. It has 1,800 miles (2,897 km) of streams, 480 lakes, and 63 campgrounds.
Siuslaw	Sand dunes at Oregon Dune National Recreation Area.	Oregon	July 1, 1908	630,291	It includes Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and three wilderness areas. Marys Peak is the forest's highest point.
Six Rivers	The Salmon River during spring.	California	July 1, 1947	977,090	Named for six rivers: the Smith, Klamath, Trinity, Mad, Van Duzen, and Eel.
Stanislaus	Cherry Lake and the surrounding forest.	California	February 22, 1897	899,427	It has over 800 miles (1,287 km) of streams and four wilderness areas. The Emigrant Wilderness borders Yosemite National Park.
Sumter	A sign at the border of the Ellicott Rock Wilderness.	South Carolina	July 13, 1936	372,778	It has 22 waterfalls! It also contains part of the Ellicott Rock Wilderness, which is special because it's located in three states.
Superior	The view over the forest from Eagle Mountain.	Minnesota	February 13, 1909	2,093,590	It includes the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which has over 1,500 miles (2,414 km) of canoe routes and 1,000 lakes. Eagle Mountain is Minnesota's highest point.
Tahoe	A meadow with wildflowers.	California	April 13, 1899	872,981	In the Sierra Nevada northwest of Lake Tahoe. Part of the Granite Chief Wilderness is within this forest.
Talladega	Cheaha Lake at the base of Mount Cheaha from above.	Alabama	July 17, 1936	393,006	It includes the Cheaha and Dugger Mountain wilderness areas. The Talladega Scenic Byway crosses the forest.
Tombigbee	The Lakeside Trail winding around Choctaw Lake.	Mississippi	November 27, 1959	67,468	In northeastern Mississippi, this forest covers rolling hills that were once abandoned farmland.
Tongass	Mountains and water in Tongass National Forest.	Alaska	September 10, 1907	16,748,360	The LARGEST national forest! It spans 500 miles (805 km) in southeast Alaska. Nearly one-third of it is covered by 19 wilderness areas.
Tonto	Tonto National Forest canyons from above.	Arizona	October 3, 1905	2,866,663	It stretches from the Sonoran Desert to the pine forests at the Mogollon Rim. It has eight wilderness areas and several lakes.
Tuskegee	A bike along a trail in Tuskegee National Forest.	Alabama	November 27, 1959	11,349	One of the smallest national forests. Its Bartram National Recreation Trail was Alabama's first.
Uinta–Wasatch–Cache	Aspens below mountains in fall.	Utah, Wyoming, Idaho	February 22, 1897	2,492,404	It has nine wilderness areas and covers parts of the Wasatch and Uinta mountains.
Umatilla	A trail atop Oregon Butte.	Oregon, Washington	July 1, 1908	1,405,898	In the Blue Mountains. It has three wilderness areas and one of the largest elk herds of any National Forest.
Umpqua	The Calapooya Mountains from Fairview Peak Lookout.	Oregon	March 2, 1907	986,120	In the Cascade Range of southwestern Oregon. It has three wilderness areas. Watson Falls is a beautiful 272-foot (83 m) high waterfall here.
Uncompahgre	Wetterhorn Peak.	Colorado	June 14, 1905	951,767	It contains the northern part of the San Juan Mountains and the Uncompahgre Plateau. It also has the Uncompahgre Gorge.
Uwharrie	A pond in Uwharrie National Forest.	North Carolina	January 12, 1961	51,218	It borders the eastern side of Badin Lake. It has one wilderness area, the Birkhead Mountains Wilderness.
Wallowa-Whitman	The Wallowa Mountains.	Oregon, Idaho	May 6, 1905	2,261,480	It stretches from the Blue Mountains to the Snake River. It includes Hells Canyon, the deepest gorge in North America!
Wayne	A sign for Wayne National Forest.	Ohio	October 1, 1951	243,180	Ohio's only national forest. It's in the Appalachian foothills and has over 300 miles (483 km) of trails.
White Mountain	The Sandwich Range in winter.	New Hampshire, Maine	May 16, 1918	761,687	Located in the White Mountains. The Appalachian Trail passes through here. Mount Washington is the highest point in the Northeast.
White River	The Maroon Bells and Maroon Lake in fall	Colorado	October 16, 1891	2,287,495	It has eight wilderness areas, twelve ski resorts, and ten peaks taller than 14,000 feet (4,267 m)!
Willamette	The Breitenbush River.	Oregon	July 1, 1933	1,681,674	In the Cascade Range. About 20% of the forest is designated as wilderness.
William B. Bankhead	Clear Creek.	Alabama	January 15, 1918	181,988	This forest has 153 miles (246 km) of trails. It includes the Sipsey Wilderness, the largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River.

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Bosques del sistema nacional de bosques de los Estados Unidos para niños

• List of former national forests of the United States
• National grassland