List of national forests of the United States

A map of the United States showing the locations of the National Forests and National Grasslands

Map of national forests and national grasslands of the United States

The United States has 154 protected areas known as national forests, covering . 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 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.

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 , 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.^[A]

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 , followed by California () and Idaho (). 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.

National forests

NameA	Photo	LocationB	Date formedC	Area	DescriptionD
Allegheny	A photo of Allegheny Reservoir in fall	Pennsylvania	Template:Dts		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 of the North Country Trail.Template:Rp
Angeles	A photo of the San Gabriel Mountains	California	Template:Dts		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 to at the summit of Mount San Antonio.
Angelina	A photo of a ranger station in Angelina National Forest.	Texas	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Apache–Sitgreaves	A photo of the highlands from route 191 in Arizona in Apache–Sitgreaves National Forest	Arizona, New Mexico	Template:Dts		Encompassing the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains, this forest includes 34 lakes and over of rivers and streams, more than any other national forest in the arid Southwest.
Apalachicola	A photo of an artificial pond off of FH-111 in Apalachicola National Forest.	Florida	Template:Dts		As the largest national forest in Florida, Apalachicola includes over of water and of the Florida Trail. There are caverns and sinkholes at the Leon Sinks Geological Area, while Fort Gadsden is along the Apalachicola River.
Arapaho	A photo of aspens in fall along the Crooked Creek Road	Colorado	Template:Dts		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 .
Ashley	A photo of King's Peak and Henry's Fork Basin.	Utah, Wyoming	Template:Dts		Ashley National Forest manages the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area and the High Uintas Wilderness. Kings Peak at is the highest point in Utah and is located in the Uinta Mountains.
Beaverhead–Deerlodge	A photo of a stream and mountains in Beaverhead–Deerlodge National Forest.	Montana	Template:Dts		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.
Bienville	A photo of a forest sign in Bienville National Forest	Mississippi	Template:Dts		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 of old-growth forest. It is managed collectively with Mississippi's five other national forests.Template:Rp
Bighorn	A mountain meadow in Bighorn National Forest.	Wyoming	Template:Dts		In the Bighorn Mountains of north-central Wyoming, Bighorn National Forest has eight lodges, several reservoirs, and of trails. Elevation reach at Cloud Peak in the Cloud Peak Wilderness, which is also the location of the Cloud Peak Glacier.
Bitterroot	A photo of Lake Como and mountains	Montana, Idaho	Template:Dts		Bitterroot National Forest is located in the Bitterroot and Sapphire mountains, reaching its highest point at at Trapper Peak. The forest is named for the bitterroot plant.Template:Rp
Black Hills	A photo of the Black Hills in the Black Elk Wilderness with Horsethief Lake.	South Dakota, Wyoming	Template:Dts		Consisting predominantly of Ponderosa pine, this forest is located in the namesake Black Hills. There are 11 reservoirs, of trails, and 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 .Template:Rp
Boise	A photo of rocks along a river in Boise National Forest.	Idaho	Template:Dts		Portions of the Boise, Payette, and South and Middle Forks of the Salmon River drainages make up the forest. There are over of streams and more than 250 lakes and reservoirs in the forest.
Bridger–Teton	Wind River Range approaching the Lozier Lakes	Wyoming	Template:Dts		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.
Caribou–Targhee	Upper Mesa Falls	Idaho, Wyoming	Template:Dts		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.
Carson	A photo of Wheeler Peak from Mount Walter	New Mexico	Template:Dts		In the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, this forest has over of trails and Taos Ski Valley. The highest point in the forest is Wheeler Peak, also New Mexico's highest point, at .Template:Rp
Chattahoochee–Oconee	A photo of a waterfall along the Raven Cliffs Trail	Georgia	Template:Dts		With of trails, this forest contains the southern terminius of the Appalachian Trail. Georgia's highest point, Brasstown Bald at is in the forest, and several Civil War battles were fought in the area.Template:Rp
Chequamegon–Nicolet	A photo of a lake and coniferous forests.	Wisconsin	Template:Dts		There are 2,020 lakes, 440 spring ponds, and of wetlands in this national forest. There are also of non-motorized trails, of motorized trails, and of roads alongside five wilderness areas.
Cherokee	South Fork of Citico Creek in the Citico Creek Wilderness.	Tennessee, North Carolina	Template:Dts		Cherokee National Forest has eleven wilderness areas, three large lakes, and over of trails, including 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.
Chippewa	A trail	Minnesota	Template:Dts		With 1,300 lakes and ponds, of rivers, and 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.Template:Rp
Chugach	Lost Lake and mountains.	Alaska	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Cibola	View of a ridge from the Sandia Crest Trail.	New Mexico	Template:Dts		Part of this national forest are four wilderness areas, including the Sandia Mountain Wilderness east of Albuquerque. Elevations range from to at the summit of Mount Taylor, a stratovolcano in the San Mateo Mountains.Template:Rp
Clearwater	The Lochsa River.	Idaho	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Cleveland	Cleveland National Forest near Mount Laguna.	California	Template:Dts		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 on Monument Peak, elevations are not as high here as in most of California's other national forests.Template:Rp
Coconino	Sycamore Canyon viewed from Barney Pasture.	Arizona	Template:Dts		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 is the highest point in Arizona.Template:Rp
Colville	Colville National Forest with a lake and mountains.	Washington	Template:Dts		With of hiking trails, Colville National Forest has elevations that range up to 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.
Conecuh	Open Pond and pine trees.	Alabama	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Coronado	Mountains and forest west of Paradise, Arizona.	Arizona, New Mexico	Template:Dts		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
Croatan	Swamp along the Patsy Pond Nature Trail.	North Carolina	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Custer	A mountain goat below Granite Peak.	Montana, South Dakota	Template:Dts		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 .
Daniel Boone	The forest viewed from Tater Knob.	Kentucky	Template:Dts		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.
Davy Crockett	Ratcliff Lake.	Texas	Template:Dts		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 .Template:Rp
Delta	A sign for Sunflower Wildlife Management Area in Delta National Forest.	Mississippi	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Deschutes	View to the northeast across Lava Lake with three volcanic mountains in the background: South Sister, Broken Top, and Mount Bachelor.	Oregon	Template:Dts		On the east side of the Cascade Range, Deschutes National Forest includes Newberry National Volcanic Monument and five wilderness areas. Lava River Cave, at long, is Oregon's longest lava tube.
De Soto	Pine forest in De Soto.	Mississippi	Template:Dts		De Soto National Forest contains Mississippi's only wilderness areas: Black Creek and Leaf River. The Black Creek and Tuxachanie National Recreation Trails provide of hiking opportunities. Black Creek has been designated a National Wild and Scenic River for .Template:Rp
Dixie	Scenic Byway 12 in Red Canyon.	Utah	Template:Dts		Straddling the divide between the Great Basin and Colorado River, Dixie National Forest has elevations ranging from near St. George to on Boulder Mountain. Ashdown Gorge, Box-Death Hollow, Cottonwood Forest, and Pine Valley Mountain wilderness areas are in the forest.
Eldorado	Mountains and forest along the trail to Winnemucca Lake.	California	Template:Dts		In the Sierra Nevada, Eldorado National Forest has of fishable streams and 297 lakes and reservoirs. There are of trails and of roads in the forest. The forest's Desolation Wilderness is the most visited wilderness area per acre in the country.Template:Rp
El Yunque	Forested mountainsides in El Yunque.	Puerto Rico	Template:Dts		The only tropical rainforest in the National Forest System, higher elevations of El Yunque National Forest receive nearly 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.
Finger Lakes	Overlooking the hills, forest, and surrounding area in Finger Lakes National Forest.	New York	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Fishlake	Aspens during fall in the mountains of the Richfield Ranger District.	Utah	Template:Dts		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 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.Template:Rp
Flathead	Big Salmon Lake and the Bob Marshall Wilderness.	Montana	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Francis Marion	A trail through pine forest.	South Carolina	Template:Dts		Francis Marion National Forest is home to 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.Template:Rp
Fremont–Winema	View from Drake Peak lookout	Oregon	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Gallatin	Mountains around Daisy Pass.	Montana	Template:Dts		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.
George Washington and Jefferson	Forested mountains viewed from the White Rocks on Little Sluice Mountain.	Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky	Template:Dts		In the Appalachian Mountains, the highest point of the forest is Mount Rogers, also the highest point in Virginia at in Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. There are of old-growth forest here, and the Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail both run through the forest.
Gifford Pinchot	Partially snow-covered Old Snowy Mountain.	Washington	Template:Dts		Gifford Pinchot National Forest includes Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and parts of seven wilderness areas. There are of trails and of roads in the forest.
Gila	Mountains and valleys in Gila National Forest.	New Mexico	Template:Dts		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 while following Whitewater Creek.
Grand Mesa	The northwestern edge of Grand Mesa from the south.	Colorado	Template:Dts		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 . There are over 300 lakes in the forest. It is managed together with Gunnison National Forest and Uncompahgre National Forest.Template:Rp
Green Mountain	Trees in fall along a road near the Hapgood Pond Recreation Area.	Vermont	Template:Dts		In Vermont's Green Mountains, this forest includes eight wilderness areas. Among the of trails in the forest are the Appalachian Trail and two National Recreation Trails: Long and Robert Frost.
Gunnison	Mountains in spring along the Copper Lake Trail near Crested Butte.	Colorado	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Helena	The York-Trout Creek Bridge over the Missouri River below mountains in Helena National Forest.	Montana	Template:Dts		The Continental Divide Trail travels almost through the forest, which surrounds Montana's capital city. The Elkhorn Mountains are the only Wildlife Management unit in the National Forest System.
Hiawatha	A forest sign along road M-28 in Hiawatha National Forest.	Michigan	Template:Dts		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.
Holly Springs	A cypress swamp in Holly Springs National Forest.	Mississippi	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Homochitto	A sign for Homochitto National Forest.	Mississippi	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Hoosier	A hazy fall day over the hills in Hoosier National Forest.	Indiana	Template:Dts		The Pioneer Mothers Memorial Forest is of old-growth forest in Hoosier National Forest. The forest's Charles C. Deam Wilderness is Indiana's only wilderness area.
Humboldt–Toiyabe	Aspen in Lamoille Canyon surrounded by mountains.	Nevada, California	Template:Dts		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.
Huron–Manistee	Benton Lake and surrounding forests.	Michigan	Template:Dts		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 high along Lake Michigan.
Idaho Panhandle Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe, Kaniksu	Revett Lake and surrounding mountains and forests from above.	Idaho, Montana, Washington	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Inyo	Mount Whitney from the Whitney Portal Trailhead.	California, Nevada	Template:Dts		Located in the Sierra Nevada, Inyo includes Mono Lake, bristlecone pines, the Long Valley Caldera, nine wilderness areas, and Mount Whitney, which at is the highest point in the United States outside of Alaska.
Kaibab	Aspens and a meadow in fall.	Arizona	Template:Dts		Located on the Colorado Plateau to both the north and south of Grand Canyon National Park, elevations in Kaibab National Forest reach on Kendrick Mountain in the Kendrick Mountain Wilderness. There are over of trails in the forest, including through the Kanab Creek Wilderness.
Kisatchie	The Kisatchie Bayou.	Louisiana	Template:Dts		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.
Klamath	A road through the forest.	California, Oregon	Template:Dts		Straddling the California–Oregon border, this forest has part of five wilderness areas, of wild and scenic rivers, and 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.
Kootenai	Snow-capped mountains in Kootenai National Forest.	Montana, Idaho	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit	Lake Tahoe.	California, Nevada	Template:Dts		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.E
Land Between The Lakes	Scenic lake2	Kentucky, Tennessee	Template:Dts		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.
Lassen	Echo Lake.	California	Template:Dts		Surrounding Lassen Volcanic National Park, this forest has three wilderness areas and of old-growth Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forests. Subway Cave is a lava tube that is long and open to the public.
Lewis and Clark	A riding ranger with mules near the Chinese Wall.	Montana	Template:Dts		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.
Lincoln	Partially forested mountains in Lincoln National Forest.	New Mexico	Template:Dts		With portions of four mountain ranges, the Capitan, Guadalupe, Sacramento, and Sierra Blanca, elevations range from to in Lincoln National Forest. The forest was the birthplace of Smokey Bear.
Lolo	Rainy Lake and mountains.	Montana	Template:Dts		Located west of the Continental Divide and containing parts of four wilderness areas, this forest has 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.
Los Padres	Montane chaparral and mountains.	California	Template:Dts		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 of trails and part of the Jacinto Reyes National Scenic Byway.
Malheur	Strawberry Lake and mountains in fall.	Oregon	Template:Dts		In the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, Malheur National Forest's highest point is Strawberry Mountain at . The Cedar Grove Botanical Area contains the only stand of Alaska yellow cedar east of the Cascade Range in the United States.
Manti–La Sal	Mount Peale viewed from Mount Mellenthin.	Utah, Colorado	Template:Dts		Including the La Sal and Abajo mountains of eastern Utah, elevations in this forest reach on Mount Peale. The Dark Canyon Wilderness is the only wilderness area in the forest.Template:Rp
Mark Twain	A kayaker on the St. Francis River.	Missouri	Template:Dts		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.
Medicine Bow–Routt	Mountains and grasslands surrounding a work center.	Colorado, Wyoming	Template:Dts		This forest contains many ranges of the Rocky Mountains with elevations ranging from to . There are ten wilderness areas and Rob Roy Reservoir, which covers .
Mendocino	Howard Lake and forested mountains.	California	Template:Dts		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.
Modoc	The summit trail and surrounding mountains.	California	Template:Dts		Modoc National Forest contains the Medicine Lake Volcano, which has an elevation of and is the largest shield volcano in North America. There are of old-growth forest here along with Mill Creek Falls in the South Warner Wilderness.
Monongahela	Seneca Rock.	West Virginia	Template:Dts		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 , and Seneca Rocks is a quartzite crag.
Mount Baker–Snoqualmie	Table Mountain and its reflection in a lake	Washington	Template:Dts		In the Cascade Range, this forest includes Mount Baker, at an elevation of , 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.
Mount Hood	Mount Hood and its reflection in Mirror Lake.	Oregon	Template:Dts		This forest is named for and contains Mount Hood, the highest point in Oregon at . The forest stretches from the Columbia River Gorge and includes Mount Hood National Recreation Area and nine wilderness areas.
Nantahala	Dry Falls.	North Carolina	Template:Dts		In southwestern North Carolina, this forest includes the Nantahala Gorge and Nantahala River. There are of trails in the forest with elevations ranging from to on Lone Bald.
Nebraska	Forest and grasslands in the Bessey Ranger District.	Nebraska	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Nez Perce	Crooked Creek in fall.	Idaho	Template:Dts		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.
Ocala	A pond in Farles Prairie.	Florida	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Ochoco	Steins Pillar.	Oregon	Template:Dts		Ochoco National Forest contains a variety of odd geological formations, of old-growth forest, the headwaters of the Crooked River, and three wilderness areas. Stein's Pillar is a tall rock column in the Ochoco Mountains.Template:Rp
Okanogan-Wenatchee	A lake and the surrounding mountains and forest viewed from Maple Pass.	Washington	Template:Dts		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 of trails in the forest, including part of the Pacific Crest Trail.Template:Rp
Olympic	Forests and the Olympic Mountains from Hurricane Ridge.	Washington	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Osceola	Pine forest with palmetto understory.	Florida	Template:Dts		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 of the Florida National Scenic Trail pass through the forest.
Ottawa	Pines along Kathryn Lake.	Michigan	Template:Dts		Located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Ottawa National Forest stretches from Lake Superior to the Wisconsin border. There are 500 named lakes, nearly of streams, and three wilderness areas in the forest.
Ouachita	The view across Ouachita National Forest from atop the Standing Stairs Mountains.	Arkansas, Oklahoma	Template:Dts		Including the namesake Ouachita Mountains, this forest has nearly of old-growth forest. The forest has two wilderness areas: Black Fork Mountain and Upper Kiamichi River.
Ozark–St. Francis	View of the Ozarks from atop White Rock Mountain.	Arkansas	Template:Dts		Ozark–St. Francis National Forest has more than of trails, including the Ozark Highlands Trail. Blanchard Springs Caverns is a three level cave system that is open for public tours.
Payette	The Seven Devils Mountains in winter.	Idaho	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Pike	A lake and mountains in Pike National Forest.	Colorado	Template:Dts		Pike National Forest includes Pikes Peak at an elevation of and three wilderness areas. Since 1975 the forest has been managed together with San Isabel National Forest.
Pisgah	Upper Creek Falls.	North Carolina	Template:Dts		Elevations in Pisgah National Forest reach over , and there are of old-growth forests, including in Linville Gorge. There are three wilderness areas in the forest: Linville Gorge, Middle Prong, and Shining Rock.
Plumas	Bucks Lake.	California	Template:Dts		There are of old-growth forest in Plumas National Forest. The Little Grass Valley Recreation Area surrounds Little Grass Valley Reservoir and includes a campground and boat launch, among other facilities and services.
Prescott	A lake near Mingus Mountain.	Arizona	Template:Dts		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 of trails in the forest
Rio Grande	Mountains along the Stony Pass Road.	Colorado	Template:Dts		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 at the summit of Blanca Peak, overlooking the San Luis Valley and Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Rogue River–Siskiyou	The Rabbit Ears, a pair of spires, rise above the coniferous forest of the Rogue River–Siskiyou NF	Oregon, California	Template:Dts		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 tall.
Roosevelt	Mountains surrounding Lake Isabelle.	Colorado	Template:Dts		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	A sign for Sabine National Forest.	Texas	Template:Dts		Sabine National Forest borders the western side of Toledo Bend Reservoir and has 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.Template:Rp
Salmon–Challis	Borah Peak and the Lost River Range in winter.	Idaho	Template:Dts		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 , is located in the Lost River Range in the forest.
Sam Houston	A hardwood swamp.	Texas	Template:Dts		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	Grassland approaching the forest edge.	Nebraska	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
San Bernardino	Mount Baldy viewed from Silverwood Lake.	California	Template:Dts		San Bernardino National Forest includes part of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. The forest surrounds Lake Arrowhead and other reservoirs.
San Isabel	A valley in the mountains of San Isabel National Forest.	Colorado	Template:Dts		There are 19 of Colorado's 54 fourteeners in San Isabel National Forest, including the highest point, Mount Elbert at . The forest includes the Sawatch Range, Collegiate Peaks, and Sangre de Cristo Range and is managed together with Pike National Forest.
San Juan	Mountains in San Juan National Forest.	Colorado	Template:Dts		San Juan National Forest includes Chimney Rock National Monument and elevations that range from to over . The forest's Weminuche Wilderness is the largest in Colorado at .
Santa Fe	Aspens and snow-capped mountains in late fall.	New Mexico	Template:Dts		Santa Fe National Forest's highest point is Truchas Peak at in the Pecos Wilderness. There are of trails in the forest, which includes the Valles Caldera National Preserve.
Sawtooth	Stanley Lake and McGown Peak.	Idaho, Utah	Template:Dts		Sawtooth National Forest includes over 1,100 lakes, of trails and roads, and ten mountain ranges, with the highest point at 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.
Sequoia	Giant sequoias.	California	Template:Dts		Sequoia National Forest includes Giant Sequoia National Monument, both named for the giant sequoia, the largest tree species in the world. There are of maintained and abandoned roads and of trails in the forest, including the Pacific Crest Trail.
Shasta–Trinity	The Trinity Alps near Granite Lake.	California	Template:Dts		There are of streams in the forest, and elevations range from to on Mount Shasta. Five wilderness areas and of trails can be found in the forest.
Shawnee	The Garden of the Gods at sunset.	Illinois	Template:Dts		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 long.
Shoshone	Pingora Peak and Lonesome Lake.	Wyoming	Template:Dts		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 at Gannett Peak, the highest point in Wyoming.
Sierra	Lake of the Lone Indian and surrounding mountains.	California	Template:Dts		Sierra National Forest is located on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada and elevations reach . There are of streams, 480 lakes, 11 reservoirs, and 63 campgrounds in the forest.Template:Rp
Siuslaw	Sand dunes at Oregon Dune National Recreation Area.	Oregon	Template:Dts		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 is the forest's highest point.
Six Rivers	The Salmon River during spring.	California	Template:Dts		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.
Stanislaus	Cherry Lake and the surrounding forest.	California	Template:Dts		Stanislaus National Forest has over of streams and four wilderness areas, including the Carson–Iceberg Wilderness. The Emigrant Wilderness borders the northwest corner of Yosemite National Park.Template:Rp
Sumter	A sign at the border of the Ellicott Rock Wilderness.	South Carolina	Template:Dts		Sumter National Forest contains 22 waterfalls with drops ranging from to and part of the Ellicott Rock Wilderness, the only wilderness located in three states.
Superior	The view over the forest from Eagle Mountain.	Minnesota	Template:Dts		Superior National Forest includes the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which has over of canoe routes, 1,000 lakes, and 2,200 designated campsites. Eagle Mountain, the highest point in Minnesota at , is also in the forest.
Tahoe	A meadow with wildflowers.	California	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Talladega	Cheaha Lake at the base of Mount Cheaha from above.	Alabama	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Tombigbee	The Lakeside Trail winding around Choctaw Lake.	Mississippi	Template:Dts		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	Mountains and water in Tongass National Forest.	Alaska	Template:Dts		The largest national forest, Tongass spans 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.
Tonto	Tonto National Forest canyons from above.	Arizona	Template:Dts		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
Tuskegee	A bike along a trail in Tuskegee National Forest.	Alabama	Template:Dts		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	Aspens below mountains in fall.	Utah, Wyoming, Idaho	Template:Dts		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.Template:Rp
Umatilla	A trail atop Oregon Butte.	Oregon, Washington	Template:Dts		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 of trails, of roads, and one of the largest elk herds of any National Forest.
Umpqua	The Calapooya Mountains from Fairview Peak Lookout.	Oregon	Template:Dts		Umpqua National Forest is in the Cascade Range of southwestern Oregon and includes three wilderness areas. Watson Falls is a waterfall that is high on Watson Creek, a tributary of the Clearwater River.
Uncompahgre	Wetterhorn Peak.	Colorado	Template:Dts		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	A pond in Uwharrie National Forest.	North Carolina	Template:Dts		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	The Wallowa Mountains.	Oregon, Idaho	Template:Dts		Wallowa-Whitman National Forest stretches from the Blue Mountains to the Snake River. Elevations range from in Hells Canyon, the deepest gorge in North America, to at the summit of Sacajawea Peak in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area.
Wayne	A sign for Wayne National Forest.	Ohio	Template:Dts		Ohio's only national forest, Wayne is located in the Appalachian foothills and has over of trails. The North Country Trail passes through several sections of the forest.
White Mountain	The Sandwich Range in winter.	New Hampshire, Maine	Template:Dts		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 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.
White River	The Maroon Bells and Maroon Lake in fall	Colorado	Template:Dts		White River National Forest has eight wilderness areas, twelve ski resorts, four large reservoirs, of trails, of roads, and ten peaks higher than in elevation.
Willamette	The Breitenbush River.	Oregon	Template:Dts		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 of roads in the forest.
William B. Bankhead	Clear Creek.	Alabama	Template:Dts		This forest contains of trails and the Sipsey Wilderness, which at is the largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River. It is managed together with Alabama's other national forests.

See also

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

Notes

• ^A Listed names of national forests 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. Forests that are managed together, however, 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. To reach the figure of 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.
• ^B In 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.
• ^C The 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.
• ^D Forests 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.
• ^E The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) consists of 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 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.

External links

• Official website of the United States Forest Service