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Manti LaSal National Forest
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The 1,327,600-acre Manti LaSal National Forest, located in south eastern Utah, is one of 156 Forests nationwide and one of 16 in the Intermountain Region. It is managed for multiple uses, such as range, timber, minerals, water, wildlife, and recreation.

The Forest is divided into three separate land areas, the Manti Division, the LaSal Division at Moab, and the LaSal Division at Monticello. The Manti Division Ranger District offices are located at Price Ferron, and Ephraim. The LaSal Division Ranger District offices are located at Moab and Monticello.

The Manti Division is part of the remnant Wasatch Plateau (5,000 to 10,000 foot elevation) exhibiting high elevation lakes, diverse vegetation, near vertical escarpments, and areas of scenic and geologic interest.

The LaSal Division Moab mountain peaks (12,000-foot elevation), canyons, and forest adds climatic and scenic contrast to the hot red-rock landscape of Arches (5,000 foot elevation) and Canyonlands National Parks.

The LaSal Division - Monticello timbered slopes provide a welcome middle ground and background contrast to the sand and heat of Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, and the surrounding desert. Pictographs, petroglyphs, and stone dwellings are evidence of past civilization.

Private and state lands exist within the Forest boundaries. Some of these lands are closed to public use. Maps and information on land ownership may be obtained from the Ranger District offices.

Recreation Opportunities - Approximately one million recreation visitor days are spent on the Forest annually in diverse activities. Recreation pursuits include fuelwood gathering, sightseeing, hunting, fishing, off-highway vehicle riding, camping, boating, picnicking, and just relaxing in the Forest environment. Winter activities include snowmobiling and cross country skiing. Primitive recreation activities occur in the Dark CanyonWilderness. The Forest contains two National Recreation Trails: the Left Fork of Huntington Canyon Trail, 4 miles in length, and the Fish Creek Trail, 10 miles in length. Both trails are located on the Manti Division. Many other trails exist on both divisions, including a transmountain trail on the Moab Ranger District.

Developed public recreation sites on the Forest include: twenty family-type campgrounds, four family type picnic grounds, one winter sports site, one boating site, seven interpretive sites associated with an auto tour, four isolated interpretive sites, three recreation residence subdivisions comprised of thirty-four individual residences, and nine isolated recreation residences. There are two privately-owned resort type facilities under special-use permit.

Dispersed recreation occurs outside of areas where facilities are built especially for recreation. It occurs mostly along or adjacent to roads, and includes activities such as driving for pleasure, camping, hiking or mountain biking, hunting, fishing, and wilderness travel.

Information on developed and dispersed recreation opportunities including firewood and Christmas tree permits, can be obtained from the District offices.

Multiple Use Management - The Forest Service is charged by Congress to manage the National Forests for a variety of public benefits or"Multiple Uses.' During your visit, you might encounter evidence of management activities, such as mining, oil and gas production, range and wildlife habitat improvement, watershed rehabilitation, and timber production..


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[from Outside magazine]