San Isabel National Forest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Isabel National Forest |
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 San Isabel National Forest
Location in the United States
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| Location | Colorado, United States |
| Nearest city | Pueblo, CO |
| Area | 1,120,233 acres (4,533.42 km2) |
| Established | April 11, 1902 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
| Website | Pike and San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands |
The San Isabel National Forest is a huge natural area in central Colorado, United States. It's a special place with tall mountains, thick forests, and beautiful wildlife. This forest is home to many of Colorado's highest peaks.
It's one of eleven national forests found in Colorado. The forest covers a massive area of over 1.1 million acres. That's about 4,500 square kilometers! This large area spreads across parts of eleven different counties in central Colorado.
Exploring San Isabel National Forest
San Isabel National Forest is famous for its incredible mountains. It has 19 of Colorado's 53 "fourteeners." A fourteener is a mountain peak that is over 14,000 feet (about 4,267 meters) high. One of these is Mount Elbert, which is the highest point in all of Colorado!
The forest also includes several important mountain ranges. These include the Sawatch Range, the Collegiate Peaks, and the Sangre de Cristo Range. These areas offer amazing views and opportunities for outdoor adventures.
How the Forest is Managed
The U.S. Forest Service takes care of San Isabel National Forest. They work to protect the land, plants, and animals. They also help people enjoy the forest safely.
The San Isabel National Forest is managed along with a few other natural areas. These include Pike National Forest, Cimarron National Grassland, and Comanche National Grassland. Their main offices are in Pueblo. You can also find local ranger offices in towns like Cañon City, Leadville, and Salida.
Wilderness Areas in the Forest
Inside San Isabel National Forest, there are seven special places called "wilderness areas." These areas are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. This system protects land that is kept wild and untouched by humans.
Some of these wilderness areas are so big that they stretch into other national forests. One even goes into land managed by the National Park Service. Another extends into land cared for by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Here are the wilderness areas you can find:
- Buffalo Peaks Wilderness (mostly in Pike National Forest)
- Collegiate Peaks Wilderness (partly in Gunnison National Forest and White River National Forest)
- Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness
- Holy Cross Wilderness (mostly in White River National Forest)
- Mount Massive Wilderness (partly in Leadville National Fish Hatchery)
- Sangre de Cristo Wilderness (partly in Rio Grande National Forest and Great Sand Dunes National Park)
- Spanish Peaks Wilderness
