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National Forests

As “the land of many uses,” national forests are America’s playgrounds. Run by the federal government (Department of Agriculture), the US Forest Service manages the land for a wide variety of purposes—logging, ranching, hunting, and hiking are all permitted—and regulations outside of wilderness areas are generally much fewer than on other public lands.

Dogs are allowed, camping is permitted virtually anywhere, wilderness permits are not required for backcountry camping, and no use fees are charged. A campfire permit is required for the use of stoves and campfires, obtainable free from any Forest Service ranger station and valid across the state for the entire year.

Roads are generally poor, commonly unpaved, and often challenging and confusing to navigate. National forest maps are usually remarkably accurate, indicate areas of private property, and are all but essential for road navigation. Organized national forest campgrounds are plentiful across the state and tend to be inexpensive, but they often lack amenities (pit toilets are common).