List of U.S. National Forests

The United States has 154 protected areas known as national forests, covering Template:Convert. National forests are managed by the U.S. Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 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 protect the forest, secure water supplies, and supply timber. With the Forest Reserve Act of 1891, the President of the United States was 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.

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.

As of September 30, 2014, the Forest Service manages a total of Template:Convert, Template:Convert 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.Template:Ref label

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. Alaska has the most national forest land, with Template:Convert, followed by California (Template:Convert) and Idaho (Template:Convert). 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.

## See also

* List of former U.S. National Forests
* United States National Grassland

## Notes

* Template:Note labelThe listed National Forest names represent the current management divisions of the National Forest System. Forests that are managed separately, such as Allegheny National Forest and Monongahela National Forest, are listed as separate forests. But forests that are managed together may or may not be listed separately. Forests managed together and with hyphenated names, such as Salmon-Challis National Forest, are considered to be a single National Forest. Forests that are managed together under titles such as Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests, are considered to be separate forests. National Forests listed in this column in small text are constituent National Forests managed by, but not included in the name of, the named National Forest in normal text. If you are counting to reach 154 National Forests, count hyphenated names as two forests, with the exception of Manti-La Sal, which is the official name of one forest. Uinta-Wasatch-Cache is counted as three and George Washington and Jefferson is counted as two.
* Template:Note labelIn the case of National Forests in multiple states, the states are listed in descending order by land area of that forest contained in each state. States with the most area of that forest are listed first, while states with the least are listed last. Coordinates are those by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, and may not be representative of the entire forest.
* Template:Note labelThe history of the National Forest System is very complicated. Forests have been transferred between agencies, renamed, divided, consolidated, discontinued, established from parts of existing forests, had portions ceded to other forests, expanded from other lands, among various other actions. The date given represents the day: that forest was established as is, a predecessor forest with the same boundaries was established under a different name, or the earliest date of establishment of a forest that was combined in whole with another forest.
* Template:Note labelForests with citations to the three books in the *This Land*  series by Robert H. Mohlenbrock can be found in the section of the cited book that corresponds to that forest. Additional information about a particular forest can be found in this series and at each forest's website.
* Template:Note labelThe Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) consists of Template:Convert of U.S. Forest Service land in the Lake Tahoe watershed. The LTBMU was formed from existing Forest Service land that was managed by Eldorado, Tahoe, and Humboldt-Toiyabe national forests. Only Template:Convert of land in LTBMU is officially designated as LTBMU, and the remainder of the land is still officially designated as the three sources national forests. However, all of this land is managed separately as LTBMU, essentially making it a separate national forest.

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## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Template:Cite document
2. ↑ About the Agency. U.S. Forest Service.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Template:Cite document
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Template:Cite document
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Find a Forest by State. U.S. Forest Service.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 U.S. Board on Geographic Names. U.S. Geological Survey.
7. ↑ Allegheny National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
8. ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 Template:Cite book
9. ↑ Angeles National Forest – History & Culture. U.S. Forest Service.
10. ↑ Angeles National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
11. ↑ Angelina National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
12. ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 12.12 12.13 12.14 Template:Cite book
13. ↑ Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
14. ↑ Apalachicola National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland. U.S. Forest Service.
16. ↑ Ashley National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
17. ↑ Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 National Forests in Mississippi. U.S. Forest Service.
19. ↑ Bighorn National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
20. ↑ Bitterroot National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
21. ↑ Black Hills National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
22. ↑ Boise National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
23. ↑ Bridger-Teton National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
24. ↑ Caribou-Targhee National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
25. ↑ Carson National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
26. ↑ Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
27. ↑ Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
28. ↑ Cherokee National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
29. ↑ Chippewa National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
30. ↑ Chugach National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
31. ↑ 31.00 31.01 31.02 31.03 31.04 31.05 31.06 31.07 31.08 31.09 31.10 31.11 31.12 31.13 31.14 31.15 31.16 31.17 Template:Cite book
32. ↑ Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands. U.S. Forest Service.
33. ↑ Clearwater National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
34. ↑ Cleveland National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
35. ↑ Coconino National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
36. ↑ Colville National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 National Forests of Alabama. U.S. Forest Service.
38. ↑ Coronado National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 National Forests in North Carolina. U.S. Forest Service.
40. ↑ Custer National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
41. ↑ Daniel Boone National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 National Forests of Texas. U.S. Forest Service.
43. ↑ Green Ash-Overcup Oak-Sweetgum Research Natural Areas. National Park Service.
44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests & Crooked River National Grassland. U.S. Forest Service.
45. ↑ Dixie National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
46. ↑ Eldorado National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
47. ↑ El Yunque National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
48. ↑ Template:Cite document
49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Finger Lakes National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
50. ↑ Fishlake National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
51. ↑ Flathead National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests. U.S. Forest Service.
53. ↑ Fremont-Winema National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
54. ↑ Gallatin National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
55. ↑ George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. U.S. Forest Service.
56. ↑ Gifford Pinchot National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
57. ↑ Gila National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 58.2 Grand Mesa Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. U.S. Forest Service.
59. ↑ Green Mountain National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
60. ↑ Helena National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
61. ↑ Hiawatha National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
62. ↑ Hoosier National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
63. ↑ Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
64. ↑ Huron-Manistee National Forests. U.S. Forest Service.
65. ↑ Idaho Panhandle National Forests. U.S. Forest Service.
66. ↑ Inyo National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
67. ↑ Kaibab National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
68. ↑ Kisatchie National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
69. ↑ Klamath National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
70. ↑ Kootenai National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
71. ↑ 71.0 71.1 Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. U.S. Forest Service.
72. ↑ 72.0 72.1 Land and Resource Management Plan: Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. United States Forest Service.
73. ↑ Overview - Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area.
74. ↑ Lassen National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
75. ↑ Lewis and Clark National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
76. ↑ Lincoln National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
77. ↑ Lolo National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
78. ↑ Los Padres National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
79. ↑ Malheur National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
80. ↑ Manti-La Sal National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
81. ↑ Mark Twain National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
82. ↑ Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest & Thunder Basin National Grassland. U.S. Forest Service.
83. ↑ Mendocino National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
84. ↑ Modoc National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
85. ↑ Monongahela National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
86. ↑ Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
87. ↑ Mt. Hood National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
88. ↑ 88.0 88.1 Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands. U.S. Forest Service.
89. ↑ Nez Perce National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
90. ↑ Ocala National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
91. ↑ Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
92. ↑ Olympic National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
93. ↑ Osceola National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
94. ↑ Ottawa National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
95. ↑ Ouachita National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
96. ↑ Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
97. ↑ Payette National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
98. ↑ 98.0 98.1 Pike and San Isabel National Forest Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands. U.S. Forest Service.
99. ↑ Template:Cite document
100. ↑ Plumas National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
101. ↑ Prescott National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
102. ↑ Rio Grande National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
103. ↑ Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
104. ↑ Template:Cite news
105. ↑ Salmon-Challis National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
106. ↑ San Bernardino National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
107. ↑ San Juan National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
108. ↑ Santa Fe National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
109. ↑ Sawtooth National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
110. ↑ Sequoia National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
111. ↑ Shasta-Trinity National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
112. ↑ Shawnee National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
113. ↑ Shoshone National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
114. ↑ Sierra National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
115. ↑ Siuslaw National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
116. ↑ Six Rivers National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
117. ↑ Stanislaus National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
118. ↑ Superior National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
119. ↑ Tahoe National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
120. ↑ Tongass National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
121. ↑ Tonto National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
122. ↑ Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
123. ↑ Umatilla National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
124. ↑ Umpqua National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
125. ↑ Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
126. ↑ Wayne National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
127. ↑ White Mountain National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
128. ↑ White River National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
129. ↑ Willamette National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.

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## External links

* Official **United States Forest Service** website