The National Forest System maintains hundreds of millions of acres of awe-inspiring natural wonder across the nation. Today, there are more than 150 national forests in the U.S., the biggest of which is the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, which is roughly the size of West Virginia. Thankfully, after the Forest Reserve Act of 1891 was signed into law in reaction to years of logging that devastated the nation’s once vast eastern forests, much more care and attention has been paid to preserving these amazing and so-very-important areas of the undisturbed environment.
With so many choices available, we’re here to help you determine which ones to prioritize next time you head out on an amazing road trip or looking for solitude on a solo trip. From giant redwoods in California to the vast lake network in Minnesota, these pristine stretches of wilderness—most of them containing millions of acres—draw visitors with first-class hiking, biking, camping and canoeing, while also protecting and housing thousands of endangered species such as hawks, wolves and raptors.
These swaths of land are protectors of wildlife, landscapes and communities that have been around far longer than the country itself. So next time you think about traveling, we recommend you experience everything the USA has to offer, including these gorgeous national forests.
