National What?

Our national forests and grasslands are administered by the Department of Agriculture, which should give you the first major clue to the traditional philosophy on how these lands are managed: Think harvest. Gifford Pinchot was the founder of the FS, and he preached "mixed use": outdoor recreation—but also timber harvesting, mining, and game habitat. But times are a changin'; the forest service is placing ever greater emphasis on preservation.

National Forests
National forests are a mixed bag. Generally, they are composed of land traditionally devoted to timber harvesting. But national forests can include a whole lot more besides: alpine areas above the timberline, desert areas, even wetlands. Frequently, national forests serve as ecological buffer zones around more protected national parks—similar landscape but, for better or worse, fewer restrictions. Mountain bikers, in particular, can find terrific single-track trails next door to bike-o-phobic national parks. And many ski resorts are nestled into the folds of national forests.

If you're like many GORP readers, the areas that you will appreciate most about national forests are the federally designated wildernesses. These are areas preserved for their intrinsic value as pristine natural areas. Roads, resource extraction, and hunting are not allowed. The old saw is that "man is but a visitor." These are areas that help you get away from civilization and into the wild.

National Grasslands
Besides national forests, the Forest Service also administers about 20 national grasslands. Generally, these are areas that have been given over to grazing more than preserving prairie habitat, which is one of the most vanished habitats in North America. But there seems to be growing awareness of the beauty and importance of the prairie, so let's hope a change is coming on this front.

Upside: Low or no fees; areas of unfettered wildness and beauty.
Downside: Spotty interpretation, uneven maintenance.