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The National Forest System

Got Dunes? 10 Surprising Plants and Animals found in the Siuslaw National Forest

The Siuslaw National Forest in Oregon covers more than a half-million acres in the Oregon Coast Range mountains and is also home to many unique coastal ecosystems. Within the Forest is the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, one of the largest remaining expanses of coastal sand dunes in the world.

National Forests During Government Shutdown

Keep these tips in mind as you visit our National Forests during the government shutdown.

Opt Outside on these 15 National Forests near Cities

Looking for the perfect place to escape the city on Black Friday to OptOutside? Or to Outside any time of the year? Here’s a short list of some of our favorites.

Nine of Our Favorite User-submitted Fall Photos of our National Forests

Check out some of the recent fall photos we've shared on Instagram.

Camping

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6 Ways to Stay Safe at a National Forest Campground

Camping at a National Forest does not need to be overwhelming or scary. Just follow some basic safety advice and you can avoid danger and enjoy your trip.

Fall Camping in the Green Mountain National Forest

Guest Author Tara Schatz recollects a memorable weekend camping at the Grout Pond Recreation Area on Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest.

Taking Campfire Cooking to the Next Level: Pizza

Yes, you can cook pizza on a campfire. And it’s delicious and easy. Check out step by step instructions for this tasty dinner item.

Adventures

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Log In to Nature: Grab Your Smartphone and Head to the Forest

Check out our forest activity guide to connect with nature using your smartphone.

Growing Up Outdoors: Seven Tips for Getting Outside with your Kids

Over the last few years we have come up with some tips to make our adventures a little more enjoyable and easier to get out the door. So without further ado, here are seven tips for getting outside with your kiddos:

Escape Winter and Head to these Warmer National Forests

Not all National Forests turn into a white “winter wonderland” during the colder months. In fact, many National Forests are the perfect getaway to escape frigid temperatures if a snowy adventure isn’t your favorite.

Fall is the Perfect Season to Try 'Forest Bathing'

Forest bathing combines elements of intentional observation with a purposeful focus on the present. Unlike other nature-based sports like hiking or trail running, forest bathing doesn’t include a destination or a physical goal. Rather, forest bathers hone in on the way the forest looks, smells, sounds, and feels, using all of their senses to closely observe their surroundings.

Trees

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Restoring Our Forests While Seeking Adventure with Tree-planting Partner Trailer Set Go

Trailer Set Go is thrilled to partner with the National Forest Foundation to plant 10,000 trees on our National Forests. The trailer tire, wheel, and accessory company proudly supports the NFF’s campaign to plant 50 million trees, helping to improve our forests for all.

Planting One Tree per Cup with GoReusable

GoReusable is proud to partner with the National Forest Foundation to take our commitment to the environment one step further. For each ecocup that is purchased, we will plant one tree in a National Forest, with the pledge to plant at least 10,000 within the first year of the partnership.

Narendra and Harsha Patel: Tree-planting Supporters for our National Forests

In early 2019, Narendra and Harsha Patel of Okemos, Michigan, generously supported our campaign to plant 50 million trees on our National Forests. Learn more about why they love nature and supporting forests for future generations.

Hiking and Backpacking

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Finding Fourteeners…and Ticking Them off Our Stewardship Bucket List

With the Forest Service and nine other outstanding stewardship organizations, the NFF launched the Find Your Fourteener campaign in 2017 to harness our collective expertise to help ensure sustainable access to Fourteeners. The Find Your Fourteener campaign goal is to increase the pace and scale of improvements to sustainable recreation opportunities on Colorado’s Fourteeners. Read on for what’s on our Fourteeners stewardship bucket list in 2019!

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail around Mount Adams on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Guest Author Melanie Saucier recounts a memorable trip to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Summit Safety: Four Things To Remember On Top of the Peak With Kids

New Hampshire blogger Lyndsey Vaillancourt shares some helpful tips to keep in mind for when you reach the top of the mountain with your little ones.

Eight Juicy Questions about Huckleberries

Huckleberries are in your own backyard--they’re abundant on our National Forests. These delicious, sought-after, and magical berries are available to you on our public lands. But not everyone is a well-versed huckleberry fanatic…yet. So I spelled out the facts for you, so that you, too, can join the huckleberry fan club.

Treasured Landscapes

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Finding Fourteeners…and Ticking Them off Our Stewardship Bucket List

Whitebark Pine in the Lightning Creek Treasured Landscape

Whitebark pine preservation and recovery on Scotchman Peak on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest was given two big boosts thanks to the NFF and efforts of Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness (FSPW) volunteers in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service.

The San Gabriel Mountains are calling, and I must go Home

Read the second place entry of the 2018 San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Blog Contest.

Cabins and Lookout Towers

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A Hike Through History on the Angeles National Forest

Traveling through Big Santa Anita Canyon is like stepping back in time to the “Great Hiking Era.” As you walk along the paths trees and bushes give way to historic camps and cabins built from the 1890s to 1930s to ensure that the residents of the growing city would have a place to find peace in nature.

Eight Surprising & Fun National Forest Adventures in Wyoming

From surfing to biking to volunteering, there are lots of ways to enjoy the great outdoors in national forests in Wyoming and some of them may surprise you.

Top Ten Cabins on the Tongass National Forest

Are you planning that once-in-a-lifetime trip to Alaska? We’ve got the insider scoop on the best places to experience the wilderness of Alaska. Our largest National Forest in the country, the Tongass, includes more than 100 cabins available to rent. At 17 million acres, you’ll truly feel secluded. Our local experts at the U.S. Forest Service in Alaska gave us their favorite and top recommendations for cabins on the Tongass.

Fire Lookouts in Oregon + a Few Tips on Booking Your Own

We asked experienced lookout user, Kat Dierickx, Marketing Director for Outdoor Project, for some insight into one of the best outdoor experiences available.

Collaboration

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Idaho’s Wood River Valley: A Community Coming Together after Fire

Learn more about the recent work of the 5B Restoration Coalition in Idaho.

Talking in the Woods with Harney County Restoration Collaborative

With NFF support the Harney County Restoration Collaborative has garnered community support and consensus for local forest management practices.

Building Capacity for Watershed Restoration in Southeast Alaska

In March of 2018, more than 70 people, representing 31 organizations met to advanced watershed restoration and stewardship at the 2018 Southeast Alaska Watershed Restoration Workshop in Juneau, Alaska. The workshop was made possible by the National Forest Foundation's Community Capacity and Land Stewardship Program and organized by the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition.