13 Of America’s Most Incredible National Forests That Are Just Begging For A Visit

Over 1.3 million acres of green forests soaring mountains, dewy meadows, and rapid streams cover the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, an expanse often overlooked in favor of Washington's national park trio. Highlighted by the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Gifford Pinchot National Forest is known for its wholly wild and unusual landscape, which includes tunnels and caverns formed in eons-old cooling lava. Ape Cave is a 2.5-mile journey into the belly of the beast, while Falls Creek Cave is a lesser-known tunnel that many find easier and more accessible to explore.

A treasure in the Gem State, Salmon-Challis National Forest covers 4,235,940 acres, making it one of the largest national forests in the Lower 48. It covers much of the land area of the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness, which is the largest wilderness area south of Alaska. Numbers aside, this forest is a place of immense beauty and splendor, boasting the state's most unbridled scenery and wildlife. It's an iconic adventure destination for nature-loving Idahoans; and, considering it protects several mountain ranges, rivers, and extensive wildlife, it's no wonder why!

Wyoming is a nature lover's paradise, and Bighorn National Forest one of its most shining stars. One of the most remote and pristine places in the country, Bighorn National Forest is a national treasure sure to satisfy the wanderlust of all who explore its 1,107,571 pristine acres. Bighorn is home to literally thousands of miles of trails, myriad mountains, and dozens of lakes, and it's hard to imagine a better place to get away from the world -- especially within the park's Cloud Peak Wilderness. One of Earth's last true wilderness areas, this is an immensely beautiful forest that truly is a bucket-list must for all explorers.

"Forest" can mean so many different things, depending on where you live. In the West, for example, Cibola National Forest is an extraordinary expanse of "sky islands" covering 1.6 million acres across northern and central New Mexico, with elevations reaching 11,300 feet. The forest and surrounding grasslands contain four protected wilderness areas that provide habitats for species like elk, mule deer, black bears, and bobcats, and a critical migration corridor for raptors and other wildlife through the Sandia and Manzano mountains. It's breathtakingly beautiful, and unlike any other national forest in America.

While the West might not be the first place that comes to mind in terms of "lush forests," Coconino National Forest defies all desert stereotypes. From the iconic red rocks of Sedona to its mountainous alpine tundra and ancient volcanic terrain, this woodland expanse is one of the most diverse national forests in the country. Coconino was made for hiking, boasting some of the very best, bucket-list-worthy treks in the country. At the top of the list is the Fossil Creek Waterfall Trail, a 2.6-mile, out-and-back hike that traverses past, among other things, a real-life tropical oasis.

Laying claim to what is perhaps the single most beautiful place in the country, White River National Forest is a Colorado paradise. Maroon Bells is a place that needs no introduction; the ultimate nature postcard, this natural wonder boasts startlingly blue lake, lush meadows, and two 14,000-foot peaks. The peaks reflect perfectly in the pristine waters for a panorama that's absolutely flawless. Maroon Bells' iconic twin peaks are located in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness of Colorado's White River National Forest. This high-mountain oasis makes for a picture-perfect day trip or weekend adventure, with myriad hiking opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts of all abilities. (The overlook for this stunning vista is handicap accessible, in fact: flat, fully paved, and just 80 yards from the parking lot.)

Minnesota gets a lot of attention for its myriad lakes, and rightfully so. But Minnesota is so much more than just 10,000 lakes; the state is home to over 17 million acres of forested land, including 54 state forests. These lush landscapes are full of many different kids of trees, flowers, and abundant foliage -- not to mention some of the most diverse and wondrous wildlife in the country. One of the most notable forests? Superior National Forest, the ancient forest in Minnesota that looks like something out of a fairy tale. Superior National Forest is made up of 3.9 million acres of woods in the northernmost region of the state; this boreal forest is teeming with towering pine, birch, oak, maple, and aspen trees. What's more, the forest is home to the grandest view in the state: the summit of Eagle Mountain, which, at 2,301 feet above sea level, is the highest point in Minnesota.

When you visit Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina, you really get a national forest twofer; it's often paired with the neighboring Pigsah National Forest, as the duo lays claim to more than 200 miles of the Appalachian Trail. These forests are flush with old-growth stretches of oak, hemlock, tulip poplar, pine, sycamore, dogwood, and beech trees, which, as you can imagine, light the North Carolina landscape ablaze with vibrant colors each fall. For waterfall chasers, Nantahala National Forest offers amazing opportunities. With the powerful Nantahala River running through the forest, as well as several others, Nantahala is home to hundreds of North Carolina waterfalls, including the show-stopping Upper Whitewater Falls. Known as the tallest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains, Whitewater Falls boasts two tiers -- one in North Carolina and one in South Carolina -- totaling a stunning 811 feet.

West Virginia's national park tends to take center stage (and rightfully so), but it's by no means the only breathtakingly beautiful region of the state. Established in 1920, Monongahela National Forest spans nearly 1 million acres and encompasses one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the U.S. This wooded wonderland expands across the north-central highlands of West Virginia and contains 23 campgrounds, over 800 miles of trails, and countless bodies of water, making for the ultimate nature playground for outdoor enthusiasts.

Established in 1923, Allegheny National Forest is the only national forest in Pennsylvania, spanning a magnificent 517,000 acres in the northwestern region of the state. Within this expanse -- a lush, fertile land of trees, knobs, mountains, and valleys -- the Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Area lays claim to the biggest old-growth forest in the state. The ancient forest, boasting eastern hemlock and American beech trees dating back 400 years, spans more than 2,000 acres, and is rife with opportunities for exploration and adventure. This is an area of immense natural splendor, sure to both stoke and satisfy your wanderlust.

Covering more than 800,000 acres, New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest features some of the most untamed and beautiful country in the Northeast, including the Presidential Mountain Range. The forest's 6,288-foot Mount Washington is its crown jewel; a challenging trek for intrepid hikers that, with wind speeds in excess of 200 mph *and* feet of snow literally falling by the hour, is said to boast the "world’s worst weather." Despite the rugged conditions, White Mountain National Forest boasts some truly jaw-dropping landscapes too; its forests flush with maple, oak, hemlock, pine, birch, spruce, and fir trees. And while fall in White Mountain National Forest is certainly stunning, the quiet, snow-frosted peacefulness of winter is straight out of a Robert Frost poem, and, in our opinion, its most magical season.

Up in the Last Frontier, there is a place of extraordinary beauty that offers a glimpse into the past. Tongass National Forest is home to some of the most ancient trees in America. These old-growth trees are usually Sitka spruce, yellow or red cedar, or Western Hemlock; the Western Hemlock tend to be the tallest, and can grow upwards of 135-170 feet tall, with diameters of up to 11 feet. An important part of southeast Alaska, some of these majestic trees are over 1,000 years old; they are an awe-inspiring testament to the history of the area, and a stark reminder of why we need to treat our planet with the upmost respect and care.