As with national parks, U.S. national forests protect a vast array of flora and fauna and preserve some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country—and they’re far less crowded. In fact, it will often feel like you have the protected areas all to yourself. Bonus: Dogs and dispersed camping are usually banned on national park trails but welcomed in national forests.
The United States’ 155 national forests encompass more than 188 million acres of public land across the country—or roughly the size of Texas and West Virginia combined. They’re designed to combine conservation with responsible economic activity, like timber harvesting and grazing. But these 11 parks are more than scenic settings with lots of trees. Here are the most beautiful national forests to visit in the USA.
Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming
- Where to stay: Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole
Shoshone National Forest, the oldest national forest in the United States (established in 1891), spans a whopping 2.4 million acres. The forest started as part of the Yellowstone Timberland Reserve (most of which is now Yellowstone National Park) and offers hiking around its wildflower meadows, glassy lakes, and three mountain ranges, plus the 13,804-foot-tall Gannett Peak. Various communities act as gateways to this massive national forest, including Jackson Hole and Cody.
Tongass National Forest, Alaska
- Where to stay: Pybus Point Lodge
At 16.9 million acres, Tongass is the largest of the U.S. national forests. It is so vast that it encompasses both the largest temperate rainforest in the world and the nearly 14-mile-long Mendenhall Glacier. The parkland stretches throughout the Inside Passage region in southeast Alaska (a common destination for cruises) alongside British Columbia. Beyond hiking, fishing, and kayaking, bear viewing is a popular reason to visit Tongass, especially in July when salmon are heading upstream.
Dixie National Forest, Utah
The red rocks steal the show in Utah’s Dixie National Forest.
Photo by Traveller70/Shutterstock
- Where to stay: Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon
Even the most unassuming landscapes in Utah are often more impressive than some national parks across the country. The Dixie National Forest stretches between Zion and Bryce Canyon National Park. It has 2 million acres of red rock and high-mountain aspens and pines in a stunning orange and green contrast, plus gorges, canyons, and stone pillars. Ski or snowshoe here in the winter to see it all outlined in snow, since the most underrated season is also the least crowded.
San Juan National Forest, Colorado
The woods in San Juan National Forest climb up Rocky Mountain landscapes.
Photo by Wayne Ilfrey/Shutterstock
- Where to stay: Madeline Hotel & Residences Auberge Resorts Collection
San Juan National Forest stands out for high-desert mesas and peaks, including several of Colorado’s 14ers, some the tallest mountains in the United States. These lands also contain Chimney Rock National Monument (one of only seven such monuments in a national forest), shaped by Chacoan settlements; two stone pillars frame summer solstice, equinoxes, and other astronomical events. Within the forest are gravel biking trails for cyclists and opportunities for off-roading. There’s also a vast network of hiking paths in this part of southwest Colorado, including the perennially popular (and family-friendly) Treasure Falls Trail and the more challenging Island Lake Trail. Parts of the forest are accessible from small towns, including Pagosa Springs, Silverton, and Telluride.
Olympic National Forest, Washington
- Where to stay: Lake Crescent Lodge
On Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, this forest surrounds the national park of the same name. Its nearly 630,000 acres are a study in contrasts—you’ll find both alpine peaks and temperate rainforests here. Check out some of the forest’s nature and interpretive trails, or visit landmarks like Lake Quinault with a four-mile hike along the Quinault Loop. Don’t forget a rain jacket: This area sees an average of more than 150 inches of precipitation each year.
Coconino National Forest covers 1.8 million acres in northern Arizona.
Photo by Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock
Coconino National Forest, Arizona
- Where to stay: Ambiente: A Landscape Hotel
Boasting canyons and Seussically-shaped rock formations typical of the Southwest, Coconino National Forest near the Grand Canyon is a red-hued playground for those keen on hiking, rock climbing, and biking. Stick around after dark and head to the Giovale Open Deck Observatory in Flagstaff (an old-timey western town surrounded by the national forest) for stellar stargazing.
Green Mountain National Forest, Vermont
- Where to stay: Twin Farms
Considering Vermont is named for these green mountains (in a French manner of speaking), it’s safe to say the state’s only national forest will always be protected. These verdant peaks, stretching from the southwest corner to halfway up the state, provide swimming holes in summer, turn colors in the fall, and abound with skiing in the winter. In addition to 900 miles of crisscrossing trails, the forest also contains about 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail and 160 miles of the locally loved, 272-mile Long Trail that stretches up to Canada. The Green Mountain National Forest also includes a lovely patch of woods in New York’s Finger Lakes region.
Minnesota’s Superior National Forest is the largest national forest east of the Mississippi River.
Photo by Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock
Superior National Forest, Minnesota
- Where to stay: The Oliver Inn
This 3 million–acre park in northern Minnesota is a love letter to the Northwoods, a boreal forest covering parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Come for the thousands of miles of hiking and backpacking trails that weave through dense forests filled with sugar maples, yellow birch, and red oaks and lead to memorable vistas (like those on the Bean and Bear Lake Loop). Be sure to keep an eye out for moose, wolves, and bald eagles.
Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico
- Where to stay: Hotel Santa Fe, The Hacienda and Spa
The Santa Fe National Forest sits on either side of the oldest capital in the U.S. It’s one of the few places where you can ski in New Mexico, thanks to cooler temperatures at high elevations, sometimes up to 13,000 feet. With over 12,000 years of ancient and current Indigenous life in the area, these protected lands have four archaeological sites, in addition to piñon pines, gorges, and volcanic formations. The trail network contains a section of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), a difficult multi-day path from Mexico to Canada. An easier two-mile hike leads to McCauley Warm Spring, a natural thermal pool surrounded by rocks.
White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire and Maine
You could hike on the Appalachian Trail in White Mountain National Forest.
Photo by Joseph Jacobs/Shutterstock
- Where to stay: Omni Mount Washington Resort
White Mountain’s 1,200 miles of trails—including a 160-mile segment of the Appalachian Trail—are arguably the most appealing in autumn, when foliage in its forests changes colors. But with a slew of cascading waterfalls and views (check out the Mount Willard Trail and the Welch-Dickey Loop Trail), it’s a national forest worth visiting for more than its leaves.
Sierra National Forest butts up against Yosemite National Park.
Photo by Feoktistoff/Shutterstock
Sierra National Forest, California
- Where to stay: Autocamp Yosemite
In the heart of California’s Sierra Nevada range, this 1.3 million–acre national forest is a captivating tapestry of alpine ecosystems that includes dense forests filled with aspens and mountain hemlocks and the Kings River (a designated Wild and Scenic River) within its boundaries.
Bikers and backpackers can explore an extensive network of trails—which includes part of the Pacific Crest Trail—for mountain meadows and panoramic viewpoints. If you can’t get enough of the area’s natural beauty, head over to the bordering Yosemite or Sequoia and Kings national parks.
This article was originally published in 2023 and most recently updated on March 25, 2026, with current information. Danielle Hallock contributed to the reporting of this article.
