Sometimes restoration activities can take months or even years to appreciate the results. Tree-planting for example, can take ten years to even look like new trees—or longer. Stream restoration can take several seasons for the first fish to return. Road removal however, can have nearly instant results—at least to the eye.   This past summer and fall, the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust removed 11 miles of unused roads on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and surrounding... (Read more…)

Less than an hour from downtown L.A., Angeles National Forest is truly a “backyard forest.” Within the San Gabriel Mountains, the forest includes nearly 700 miles of trails traversing mountains, canyons, forests and more. Much of the forest’s landscape is chaparral, shaped by a Mediterranean climate of mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers filled with hardy, drought tolerant species. Five wilderness areas offer visitors the chance to escape the congestion of the greater Los... (Read more…)

Over the summer of 2011 the Appalachian Mountain Club 's Professional Trail Crew worked on the Falling Waters Trail in Franconia Notch thanks to a Matching Awards Program Grant from the National Forest Foundation. They spent 9 weeks installing structures to mitigate serious erosion and provide trail definition and enhanced safety for hikers on the very popular trail. The Falling Waters Trail is located in the scenic Franconia Notch leading from the Parkway, I-93, to the... (Read more…)

When the economic forecast doesn’t always look sunny, spending some time outside on public lands is a great option. The recreation opportunities within our National Forests help Americans enjoy healthier lifestyles, while also sustaining local communities and their economies. National Forests offer inexpensive and often free opportunities for recreational activities. With 193 million acres in 44 states, our National Forest System offers a wild array of places to explore. ... (Read more…)

I spend a lot of time in National Forests.  All summer long, I leave town Friday night and I don’t return until late Sunday evening.  It’s been three years since I’ve spent a summer Saturday evening in town.  Some might call me a “weekend warrior” or crazy, but my weekly escapes into the wilderness have become my way of life.  I crave the exploration and adventure of seeing new places (I have rarely hiked the same trail twice), and in the wildlands of our... (Read more…)