Get Lost In These 11 Breathtaking National Forests In Colorado
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Annie
Author
Here is an interesting and somewhat surprising fact: Our country has 50 diverse states and within those states lies only 154 National Forests. These protected areas cover 188,336,179 acres and—lucky for us in Colorado—11 of those designated forests are located right in our own backyard. Go on; get out and get lost in these 11 breathtaking National Forests in Colorado:
Spanning a whopping 1,106,604 acres is that of Pike National Forest; a heavily wooded Front Range area that houses none other than the majestic Pikes Peak.
Established in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt and named after the Arapaho Indian tribe is this north-central forest, which features the Mount Evans, Byers Peak, and Never Summer Wilderness.
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All you really need to know about White River is that is houses the stunning Maroon Bells. (Seriously; need we say more?)
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Located in Mesa, Gunnison, Hinsdale, and Saguache Counties, this western Colorado forest was created in 1905 and named for American explorer John W. Gunnison.
Travelers, beware; this National Forest is home to the beautiful but deadly Million Dollar Highway, which showcases not only jaw-dropping views, but steep and deadly drop offs as well.
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Located in northern Colorado and southeast Wyoming, the Medicine Bow - Routt National Forest covers a combined 2,222,313 acres, with Routt covering 1,125,438 acres (all in Colorado) and Medicine Bow covering 1,096,891 (all in Wyoming).
If you think this picture of the largest flat-topped mountain in the world (Grand Mesa) looks incredible, wait until you see it in person...
Another forest named for President Theodore Roosevelt is this 813,799-acre area, which is contiguous with the previously mentioned Arapaho National Forest.
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Are you still looking for that perfect place to enjoy the changing fall colors? I give you the Western Colorado gem of San Juan National Forest!
What's so special about Rio Grande? For starters, it is home to both the world's largest agricultural alpine valley (San Luis), as well as world's largest high deserts located around mountains (Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve).
This last one is for all you thrill seekers out there: San Isabel National Forest boasts not only Mount Elbert, but another 18 (of the state's 53) fourteeners!
For even more beauty, take one of these 15 Must Hike Trails in Colorado.
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