National Forest Week™

July 8-14, 2024

Celebrate the incredible 193-million-acre National Forest System and all the benefits it provides to the public.

Here are a few ways to get involved and join the celebration from home:

  • Visit a National Forest Forest Near You. Did you know 7 in 10 Americans are within a 2-hour drive of a National Forest or Grassland? Find a forest near you.
  • Enter the Photo Contest. Do you have a picture of a National Forest you are particularly proud of? Learn more about the National Forest Week™ Photo Contest.
  • Share Your Story. Share your photos, adventures, and appreciation for National Forests with the rest of the world using #NationalForestWeek.
  • Give back. Love National Forests and Grasslands? Make a gift that will support forest health for years to come so these incredible places can continue to provided us with resources and wonder.

Recreate Responsibly

As we explore the incredible National Forest System throughout the year, know that these special places rely on you. Be sure you recreate responsibly so that all users and future generations can continue to enjoy National Forests. Click here to revisit some basic tips to be a good steward of public lands.

National Forest Week™ Photo Contest

Celebrate National Forest Week™ by submitting your favorite photos of National Forests in the categories of landscape, recreation, and youth photography. Our judges will evaluate entries on their composition, naturalism, creativity, and connection to personal experience. We want to know through your photos how YOU experience the beauty of National Forests. No professional photography experience is needed!

Why are National Forests so Important?

National Forests and Grasslands provide Americans with 193 million spectacular acres of wildlands.

  • More than 9,000 miles of scenic byways to drive
  • Almost 150,000 miles of trails to hike
  • More than 4,400 miles of wild and scenic rivers to float
  • At least 5,100 campgrounds in which to pitch our tents
  • And 328 natural pools to swim in

Managed by the USDA Forest Service, National Forests and Grasslands host more than 170 million visits each year. Visitor spending pumps $13.5 billion into our economy annually, sustaining nearly 223,000 jobs in gateway communities.

These lands are the foundation of America’s outdoor recreation heritage and sustain our way of life. They provide water to millions Americans in thousands of communities, clean our air, store carbon, and provide timber, minerals, oil and gas and other resources for industry and communities.

Click here to learn more about your National Forests.

Contact

Interested in partnering or connecting for National Forest Week™? Reach out to Hannah Featherman at [email protected].