National Forests of the Trail

In the Rocky Mountains of Northwest Montana, just south of the Canadian border and Glacier National Park, lies the 2.4-million-acre Flathead National Forest. 

The scenic Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest stretches 2.8-million acres through central and north-central Montana. The Forest is comprised of island mountain ranges bisected by the Continental Divide and Missouri River and includes 6 ranger districts.

This forest provides timber, minerals, grazing lands, and breath-taking scenery for a wide variety of recreational pursuits. Whether it's wilderness trekking in the Anaconda-Pintler or Lee Metcalf wildernesses, driving the Gravelly Range Road or Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, or camping in one of the campgrounds in the forest, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has it all.

Covering over 4.3 million acres of east-central Idaho, individuals have the opportunity to enjoy the natural landscapes of the Continental Divide, the vast, 1.3 million acres of the Frank Church-- River of No Return Wilderness, the newly designated Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness, or the free-flowing waters of the the Wild & Scenic Salmon River. The Salmon-Challis National Forest doesn't disappoint!

Discover a world of wild beauty across southeastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and a slice of Utah. Caribou-Targhee National Forest beckons with rugged peaks, alpine trails, and dense woodlands, while the Curlew National Grassland unfolds in rolling sagebrush plains teeming with wildlife.

The Custer Gallatin National Forest is a diverse and stunning landscape, 3+ million acres, critical to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and stretching to the remote buttes and pine savannahs of southeastern MT and South Dakota.

Located in Western Wyoming, the Bridger-Teton National Forest offers more than 3.4 million acres of public land for your enjoyment. With its pristine watersheds, abundant wildlife, and immense wildlands, the Bridger-Teton comprises a large part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest intact ecosystem in the lower 48 states. 

Named after the Shoshoni people who have called this area of northwestern Wyoming home for thousands of years, the Shoshone National Forest is filled with special places. With more than 1.4 million acres of congressionally designated wilderness, the Shoshone National Forest is an integral part of the 10-million acre Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland includes almost 2.9 million acres of National Forest System lands managed for multiple uses and public enjoyment. These units provide a diverse mix of timber, livestock forage, vast mineral resources, wildlife habitat, and a vital source of water for irrigation and domestic use.

Located in north central Colorado and one of the most-visited National Forests in the country, the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland encompass 1.5 million acres across five districts and are home to some of the most epic adventures in the Rocky Mountains.

The White River National Forest is a world-renowned recreation destination home to iconic destinations such as Maroon Bells and Hanging Lake, 11 ski resorts, 10 peaks over 14,000 feet, and eight wilderness areas that cover more than a third of its acreage. 

Scenery and an abundance of opportunities for access draw you in, while trails lead the way to the rugged canyons, vast mountains, wildlife and history of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Over 3,000 miles of trails and routes—beginner to extreme—provide access to areas of rugged beauty all year long.

The Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands covers nearly 3 million acres from western Kansas to Colorado's highest mountain peaks along the Continental Divide.

San Juan National Forest encompasses about 1.8 million acres in the southwestern corner of Colorado. From high-desert mesas to alpine peaks, these federal lands are managed for multiple uses and visitors are asked to respect each other and the natural resources. 

The Rio Grande National Forest spans over 1.8 million acres in a forested ring around the San Luis Valley in south-central Colorado. From the high peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Range to rugged canyons and ancient calderas, the forest offers year-round opportunities for sightseeing and abundant recreational activities. 

The Carson National Forest spans 1.5 million acres of Northern New Mexico, encompassing portions of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, San Juan Mountains and the San Juan Basin. With elevations ranging from 6,500 to over 13,000 feet, the forest boasts diverse ecosystems, from the sagebrush to alpine and tundra.

The Santa Fe National Forest covers 1.6 million acres of mountains, valleys and mesas ranging from 5,000 to 13,000 feet in elevation. Visitors don’t have to travel far to find forested mountain slopes, colorful volcanic formations, deep river gorges, and primitive wilderness areas.

The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands encompasses 1.9 million acres. The four “sky island” ranger districts: Sandia, Mountainair, Magdalena, and Mt Taylor cover more than 1.6 million acres in New Mexico with elevations range up to 11,301 ft. 

The Gila National Forest in southwestern New Mexico covers a vast landscape of forested and woodland mountains nourished by the Gila River. The beating heart of the forest is the Gila Wilderness, fed by the lifeblood of the Gila River. The Gila is where Wilderness was born - The Gila Wilderness is the world's first area of land designated as wilderness.