15 Best National Forests to Visit in the USA (2026 Guide)

Pick any forest in this list at random and it'll probably still beat a normal vacation. That's the thing about the best national forests in the USA — the country has so many good ones that even the "backup" options would be the highlight of a trip anywhere else.

We first put this list together back in 2023. Since then, a few things have changed on the ground — new parking rules, a couple of fire closures, a washed-out road that's since been fixed — so we went back through every entry and updated it for 2026. Here are 15 forests worth building a trip around, from Washington's rainforests to Alaska's glaciers to the Blue Ridge in the Carolinas.

Best national forests in the USA at a glance

1. Olympic National Forest, Washington

Nowhere else in the country can you walk through a rainforest, climb to a snowy ridge, and stand on a wild beach in the same afternoon. That's Olympic in a sentence.

Start at the Hoh Rain Forest, where the trees are so heavy with moss they look almost prehistoric. The Hall of Mosses loop is short enough for kids and stunning enough for anyone. From there, drive up to Hurricane Ridge for the alpine views, or head out to Ruby Beach for driftwood, sea stacks, and a sunset that's genuinely hard to describe well.

One thing worth knowing before you go: the only road into the Hoh Rain Forest has flooded and closed more than once in recent winters after heavy storms. It's usually fixed within a season, but check the park's current conditions page a day or two before you drive out there — it saves you a wasted trip.

2. Tongass National Forest, Alaska

Tongass is the largest national forest in the US, and it doesn't feel like a forest so much as an entire wild coastline. It covers most of Southeast Alaska — old-growth rainforest, granite fjords, and glaciers that calve straight into the sea.

Misty Fiords National Monument is the showstopper: kayak between cliffs that rise 3,000 feet straight out of the water, with waterfalls dropping the whole way down. Glacier Bay, part of the same forest system, is where you'll spot humpback whales and watch tidewater glaciers break apart with a sound like thunder.

Base yourself in Ketchikan for a few days. It's the easiest access point, and Saxman Totem Park nearby is a genuinely good introduction to Alaska Native history and carving traditions — not a tourist-trap version of it.

3. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina/Tennessee

The Smokies are the most-visited national park in the country, and once you're there, it's obvious why. Rolling blue-green ridges, waterfalls tucked into every valley, and enough black bears that you'll probably see one from the car.

Drive the Cades Cove loop early in the morning for the best wildlife odds, then hike Laurel Falls if you're short on time or Alum Cave if you want a real workout with a payoff view of Mount LeConte. Late May and early June bring the synchronous fireflies at Elkmont — one of only a few places on Earth where fireflies flash in unison, and yes, it's worth planning a trip around.

The park still has no entrance fee, which is rare for a park this popular. But since 2023, you do need a parking tag if you're leaving your car anywhere for more than 15 minutes — $5 for a day, $15 for a week, or $40 for the year. Buy it online, at a visitor center, or from one of the roadside kiosks.

If national forests aren't quite scratching the itch, our guide to the 15 best national parks to visit in the USA covers the bigger-name parks worth adding to the same road trip.

4. White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire

If you've ever seen a New England fall foliage photo online, there's a good chance it was taken somewhere along the Kancamagus Highway. This is peak leaf-peeping territory, and it earns the reputation.

Mount Washington headlines the Presidential Range for serious hikers — it's the tallest peak in the Northeast and has genuinely dangerous weather, so don't underestimate it. For an easier day, Franconia Notch has short, flat trails to Flume Gorge and a handful of waterfalls that are perfect for families.

Come winter, the same forest turns into ski country. Bretton Woods and Loon Mountain both sit inside the national forest boundary, and the Ice Castles installation in Lincoln is a fun add-on if you're visiting in January or February.

Prefer altitude over autumn colors? Our roundup of the 15 best hill stations in the United States covers similar mountain towns across the country.

5. Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina

Pisgah sits right outside Asheville, which means you get serious mountain scenery without a long drive from a city with good food and coffee — a rare combination.

Looking Glass Falls is the easiest win here: park right next to it, no hike required, and there's a swimming hole below if you visit in summer. If you want to earn your view, hike up Mount Pisgah for a panorama of the Blue Ridge that stretches for miles. The Blue Ridge Parkway itself runs straight through the forest, so even a scenic drive delivers.

Trails here range from flat riverside walks to genuinely steep singletrack, so it works whether you're traveling with grandparents or a mountain bike.

Basing yourself in Asheville for a few days? Our guide to 20 top-rated things to do in Asheville pairs well with a Pisgah day trip.

6. Deschutes National Forest, Oregon

Bend, Oregon built its whole outdoor-town reputation on the back of this forest, and once you visit, you'll get why locals never seem to leave.

Newberry National Volcanic Monument is the centerpiece — walk through a lava tube at Lava River Cave (bring your own light source, it's pitch black inside), then relax at Paulina or East Lake, both sitting inside an old volcanic crater. Mountain bikers should head straight for the Phil's Trail network, one of the best-regarded trail systems in the Pacific Northwest.

Fly fishing on the Deschutes River is its own reason to visit. Trout and steelhead both run here, and the scenery alone is worth the cast.

If you'd rather get your adrenaline fix on a zipline than a mountain bike, check out our list of the top 15 longest ziplines in the USA.

7. San Juan National Forest, Colorado

San Juan is where you go if you want the classic "Colorado Rockies" photo — jagged peaks, turquoise lakes, and roads that make you grip the wheel a little tighter.

The Million Dollar Highway through Red Mountain Pass is one of the most dramatic drives in the country, and it connects to Silverton, a genuine old mining town rather than a rebuilt one. For hikers, Ice Lakes Basin is the reward: a multi-mile climb that ends at a lake so blue it looks edited. Durango is your basecamp, and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a fun, low-effort way to see canyon scenery if you're traveling with people who don't want to hike.

The Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway is worth it if you have a 4x4 or don't mind a rough ride — ghost towns and mountain passes the whole way.

8. Angeles National Forest, California

Ten million people live within an hour of this forest, and yet you can still find near-empty trails once you're a mile past the trailhead. It's one of LA's best-kept open secrets.

The Angeles Crest Highway is the classic intro — a scenic drive that trades city sprawl for pine forest fast. Mount Baldy remains the toughest and most rewarding summit hike in the range, and on a clear day you can see the ocean from the top.

One important update: parts of the forest are still recovering from wildfire damage, and some trails near Mount Wilson — including Echo Mountain and the Sam Merrill Trail — remain closed under an active forest order through the end of 2027. Williamson Rock is also closed. None of this affects Mount Baldy, the Bridge to Nowhere trail, or the San Gabriel River swimming spots, but always check the Angeles National Forest alerts page before you drive out, since fire restrictions here change quickly with the weather.

9. Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah

This forest wraps around three mountain ranges and touches some of Utah's best ski resorts, which makes it one of the few places on this list that's genuinely a year-round destination.

The Mirror Lake Scenic Byway is the easy way in — a drive past a string of alpine lakes with moose sightings common along the way. For a harder trip, the High Uintas Wilderness has over 500,000 acres of backcountry, and the Notch Mountain Trail earns its reputation as one of the tougher day hikes in the state.

Come winter, Park City and Snowbird both sit right against the forest boundary, so a ski trip and a forest trip are basically the same trip here.

If snowy landscapes are more your speed than summer hikes, our list of 10 beautiful snowfall places in the United States has more winter-ready spots like this one.

10. Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania

Allegheny doesn't get the same attention as the bigger western forests, and that's honestly part of its appeal — it's quieter, closer for East Coast travelers, and still genuinely beautiful.

The Kinzua Dam and Allegheny Reservoir anchor the area, good for boating and slow, scenic fishing days. Minister Creek Trail is the standout hike, winding through hemlock groves past huge rock formations you don't expect to find in Pennsylvania. Bring binoculars — bald eagles nest along the reservoir, and it's one of the better birdwatching forests on this whole list.

Fall here is underrated. The Longhouse Scenic Byway turns into a tunnel of red and gold, usually with a fraction of the crowds you'd get in New England for the same view.

11. Chugach National Forest, Alaska

Chugach is the third-largest national forest in the country and sits right next to Anchorage, which makes it Alaska's easiest big-wilderness day trip.

Prince William Sound is the highlight — book a boat tour or paddle a sea kayak past tidewater glaciers, sea otters, and seals hauled out on ice floes. If you'd rather hike, the Harding Icefield Trail climbs through forest and meadow to a view of an icefield so vast it looks like a different planet. Resurrection Pass Trail is the multi-day option, cutting through the Kenai Peninsula's rainforest and mountain passes.

Winter turns Chugach into a genuine ski destination too — Alyeska Resort is right at the forest's edge, and on clear nights you've got a decent shot at the northern lights.

Planning a longer Alaska trip around this forest? Our comprehensive Alaska summer adventure guide covers logistics for the whole state.

12. Stanislaus National Forest, California

Stanislaus quietly borders Yosemite, which means you get Sierra Nevada scenery — granite peaks, alpine lakes, giant sequoias nearby — without fighting Yosemite Valley's crowds the whole time.

Pinecrest Lake is the easy, family-friendly stop: boating, fishing, and a flat lakeside trail. If you want more of a challenge, the Sonora Pass climb is steep and rewarding, and a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail runs right through the forest for anyone doing a longer trek. Come winter, Dodge Ridge is a solid, less-crowded ski option compared to the bigger Tahoe resorts.

Here's the timely bit: Yosemite dropped its vehicle reservation system for 2026 after running it in 2024 and 2025, so you can currently drive straight in without booking a slot in advance. That could change again in future seasons, so double-check nps.gov before you leave home.

13. Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon

Mount Hood is the photo everyone wants — a snow-capped volcano mirrored perfectly in a calm lake. Trillium Lake delivers that shot with almost no effort, just a short walk from the parking lot.

For a longer day, the Timberline Trail circles the entire mountain, moving through alpine meadows, glacier views, and old-growth forest. Ramona Falls is a gentler alternative — a moderate hike that ends at a wide, fan-shaped waterfall over mossy rock. Timberline Lodge, at the base of the mountain, offers skiing nearly year-round, which is unusual even by Pacific Northwest standards.

Lost Lake, a little further out, is quieter than Trillium and worth the extra drive if you want fewer people in your photos.

14. Francis Marion National Forest, South Carolina

This one's a completely different mood from everything else on the list — flat, humid, and full of cypress swamps draped in Spanish moss, more Lowcountry than mountain.

Wambaw Creek is the move for paddlers: rent a kayak or canoe and drift under ancient cypress and tupelo trees, with barely another person in sight. On land, the Palmetto Trail cuts through longleaf pine and magnolia, and the Swamp Fox Passage section gives a good taste of the forest's backcountry side. History buffs should stop at Old Santee Canal Park, home to remnants of America's first true canal.

Fishing is easy here too — bass, bream, and catfish are all common in the Cooper River and its smaller tributaries.

Looking for a bigger dose of unusual American landscapes on the same trip? Our list of the top 14 extreme places in the USA is a good next stop.

15. Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington/Oregon

This forest straddles the Washington-Oregon border and centers on two volcanoes — Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens — which makes for some genuinely strange, beautiful scenery.

Ape Cave is the must-do here: a lava tube you can walk into, formed by Mount St. Helens itself, cool and pitch-dark once you're a few minutes in (bring two light sources, seriously). The Pacific Crest Trail runs through the forest too, with views of both volcanoes on a clear day. Spirit Lake and the Lewis River are solid picks for fishing, and Forest Road 25 makes a good scenic drive if you'd rather see the mountains from a car window.

In winter, the Mount Adams Recreation Area opens up for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, without the lift-ticket lines of a resort.

Quick planning tips before you go

A few things worth checking no matter which forest you pick:

• Fees vary by forest. National forests generally charge for parking or day-use (Adventure Pass, Northwest Forest Pass), not entry — different from national parks like the Smokies or Yosemite, which have their own separate fee systems.
• Wildfire and weather closures happen fast, especially in the West. Check the forest's official alerts page on fs.usda.gov the week of your trip, not just when you book it.
• Cell service is unreliable in most of these forests. Download offline maps (Google Maps offline or AllTrails Pro) before you lose signal.
• Camping reservations fill up months ahead for the popular sites in summer — book on recreation.gov as early as the booking window allows.

Frequently asked questions

That's 15 forests, but the country has hundreds more just like them. Wherever you start, check the official alerts page before you drive out — a five-minute check can save you a wasted trip.