Welcome

The Forest Service was established in 1905 and is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Forest Service manages public lands in national forests and grasslands, which encompass 193 million acres. more »

Spotlight

2006 Fall Color Hotline

The Forest Service Fall Color hotline is up and running. This hotline provides national forest visitors with weekly updates on fall foliage color changes and fall activities throughout the nation.

The toll-free 'Fall Color Hotline' can be reached by calling (800) 354-4595. The automated voice system is updated weekly with information about peak fall foliage colors in various regions throughout the country. This is the 16th year we are providing this service. The hotline will continue to operate through the middle of November, or as long as there is significant fall color in our national forests.

Last year we had about 17,000 callers and we are continually growing. more »

Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway, Minnesota

A nationally designated Department of Transportation (DOT) national scenic byway, located in northeastern Minnesota, the Edge of the Wilderness National Scenic Byway connects four communities in Itasca County. The 47 mile State highway 38 winds up and down with many curves and is commonly referred by the locals as “Highway Loop-de-Loop”. The most striking part of the byway is through the Chippewa National Forest where the byway offers spectacular views of pine and hardwood forests, pristine lakes and access to a variety of recreational facilities and interpretive displays. The Edge of the Wilderness was one of the first 20 National Scenic Byways designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation in 1996.

The Forest Service has been a major partner of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) since the start of the National Scenic Byways Program in 1992. The Forest Service helps to promote responsible travel and tourism to our National Forest System destinations and assists community organizations achieve sustainable tourism and economic development along these scenic landscape corridors.

The National Forest System is a major destination and partner for almost half of the 126 designated All-American Roads and National Scenic Byways. For a complete list of these byways and to help plan next your next trip to one of the 155 National Forests and Grasslands, visit the National Scenic Byways website. more »

First Annual Photo Contest for New Federal Recreation Lands Pass

Do you have the winning photo for the 2008 "America the Beautiful" National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass ? Does your photo from one of the nation's most magnificent national forests, parks or monuments capture the essence of the recreation experience available to all from America's beloved lands?

Beginning in 2007, a new interagency recreation pass authorized by the Recreation Enhancement Act will be available to recreation visitors for use at any federal recreation site which requires a fee. Beginning in 2008, the annual pass will feature a photo showcasing a federal recreation site on lands managed by the Forest Service or the Department of Interior's land management agencies which include the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The photo contest ends Dec. 31. For more information about eligibility and prizes visit :www.nationalparks.eprize.net/experiencephoto/

Features

Celebrating Wildflowers

USDA Forest Service botanists and other specialists around the nation have developed a new website. Celebrating Wildflowers is dedicated to the enjoyment of the thousands of wildflowers growing on our national forests and grasslands, and to educating the public about the many values of native plants.

Enjoy the website and come back to visit often!  »

Biscuit Fire Recovery

Responses to questions asked by the House and Senate Committee Appropriations concerning the Biscuit Fire in southern Oregon - March 2006. more »

Four Threats

Fire and fuels, invasive species, loss of open space, and unmanaged recreation are the four threats identified by Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth as having the greatest impact on the health of our Nation’s forests and grasslands. To learn more about each threat, visit the Four Threats section of our web site. more  »

Website Information

Web Survey

As you leave our site, a pop-up window may ask you to complete a survey that will help us improve the Forest Service website. The survey gathers no personal information about you. We hope you will take time to respond! more »