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…)

Stretching across Southeast Alaska, the 17-million-acre Tongass National Forest is both the United States’ largest National Forest and the world’s largest temperate rainforest. All within this one National Forest, you can find glaciers, fjords, forests, wetlands and more. From the moment you enter the forest, you know you’re experiencing “wild” Alaska. Throughout the forest and along the trails, nature holds you every step of the way. Soaring majestically above the trees,... (Read more…)

Stretching along the iconic, misty ridges of the Appalachian Mountains in west central and southwest Virginia, the 1.8 million acres of the jointly managed Washington and Jefferson National Forests make up one of the largest blocks of public land in the eastern United States.  Steeped in American history, the area was once home to Native American populations and early colonists who survived on the abundance of the land.  During both the Revolutionary War and the Civil... (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…)

Children in the U.S. spend 50 percent less time outdoors than they did 20 years ago. With the goal to motivate families and their children to get outside more often and re-connect with nature, the USDA Forest Service and the Ad Council recently launched new public service advertisements (PSAs) to encourage families to take the time to discover the forest. We are proud to join their efforts as a 2011 campaign partner. Studies show that kids who spend more time outside are... (Read more…)

Longing to feel the cooling mist of a waterfall during the dog days of summer?  Want to walk the very beginning steps of the Appalachian Trail?  Well, the Chattahooche and the Oconee National Forests of Northern Georgia await!  Two diverse forests, brought together under joint management, offer a variety of landscapes, vistas and recreation opportunities that can please just about anyone! The rugged Chattahooche, labeled a true “hiker’s paradise” is home Springer... (Read more…)

This Saturday,  American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day will bring together outdoor enthusiasts across the country for the 19th annual celebration of America's magnificent trail system and its countless supporters and volunteers. Two thousand events will take place around the country including trail maintenance, hiking, paddling, biking, horseback riding, bird watching, running, trail celebrations and more! Our earth is made up of natural ingredients like rivers, mountains,... (Read more…)