All of the states in the US except for eight states have national forests, and 80% of the nation’s national forests are located in western states. These national forests not only preserve tree, flower, and plant species and the natural land as it originally stood hundreds of years ago, but they also preserve a great variety of animal life. Many recreational activities are available in the national forests including hiking, biking, camping, scenic drives, nature viewing, and horseback riding.
The Daniel Boone National Forest, located in eastern Kentucky has over 700,000 acres of rugged land with steep forested ridges, two large lakes, and 269 miles of the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail. Over 5 million visitors come to this national forest each year. Another popular national forest is the Allegheny National Forest, which is in the state of Pennsylvania. The forest is thick with forested areas and many animals including bears, snakes, and other wildlife. There are cabins that can be rented for housing in the forest as well as over 600 camping sites.
The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests are also located east of the Mississippi River in eastern US. These two national forests cover almost 2 million acres of untouched land that extends through three states – from West Virginia to Virginia, and down to Kentucky. This area is part of the Appalachian Hardwood Forest and has over 2,000 species of plants and over 40 species of trees located in its boundaries.
In western US, there are many national forests such as the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. This forest spreads all the way from southwestern Oregon to northern California and includes the Siskiyou Mountains and Cascades Mountains. There are almost 2 million acres of land in this national forest that stretches almost to the Pacific Ocean. Popular sports in this forest are whitewater rafting and other water sports in the lakes.
