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NATIONAL FORESTS and PARKS The following descriptions are taken from their websites. Some of the maps are PDF format. Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forest and Pawnee National Grasslands Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Curecanti National Recreation Area Grand Mesa National Forest Gunnison National Forest Medicine Bow - Routt National Forests Mesa Verde National Park Pike/San Isabel National Forest and Cimarron/Comanche National Grasslands Rio Grande National Forest Rocky Mountain National Park Roosevelt National Forest San Juan National Forest Uncompahgre National Forest White River National Forest National Park Services Site USDA Forest Service ARNFPNG Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forest and Pawnee National Grasslands Map The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland encompass roughly 1.5 million acres of public land in the Rocky Mountains and foothills and short grass prairie of north central Colorado. Boundaries extend north to the Wyoming border and south passed I-70 to Mount Evans. The Arapaho National Forest includes lands on both sides of the Continental Divide, while the Roosevelt National Forest is confined to the eastern slope and the Pawnee National Grassland is east of I-25. The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland are divided into five Ranger Districts. Most management occurs at the district level. Topography on the forests varies from rolling hills to snow covered mountain peaks at over 14,000 feet. Use the links below for recreational info. Boulder Ranger District Canyon Lakes Ranger District Clear Creek Ranger District Pawnee National Grasslands Sulphur Ranger District top BCGNP Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Recreational Activities ** Map(PDF) ** More Maps The Black Canyon of the Gunnison's unique and spectacular landscape was formed slowly by the action of water and rock scouring down through hard Proterozoic crystalline rock. No other canyon in North America combines the narrow opening, sheer walls, and startling depths offered by the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. top CNRA Curecanti National Recreation Area Recreational Activities ** Map(PDF) ** Area Map(PDF) Three reservoirs, named for corresponding dams on the Gunnison River, form the heart of Curecanti National Recreation Area. Panoramic mesas, fjord-like reservoirs, and deep, steep and narrow canyons abound. Blue Mesa Reservoir is Colorado's largest body of water, and is the largest Kokanee Salmon fishery in the United States. Morrow Point Reservoir is the beginning of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and below, Crystal Reservoir is the site of the Gunnison Diversion Tunnel, a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Recently discovered dinosaur fossils, a 5,000 acre archeological district, a narrow gauge train, and traces of 6000 year old dwellings further enhance the offerings of Curecanti. top GMNF Grand Mesa National Forest Recreational Activities The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests are a combination of separate National Forests located on the western slope of the Colorado Rockies. These three combined Forests cover 3,161,912 acres of public land in the central and southern Rocky Mountains, an area that lies south of the Colorado River and west of the Continental Divide with some of the most spectacular scenery in the Rockies. The Forests vary in elevation from 5,800 feet above sea level in Roubideau Creek Canyon to 14,309 feet on Uncompahgre Peak. The Forests include spectacular features like the 355 foot high Bridal Veil falls; the Grand Mesa with over 300 lakes, one of the world's largest flat top mountains; Alpine Tunnel, once the highest railroad tunnel in North America; and Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry, one of the world's largest dinosaur bone deposits. top GNF Gunnison National Forest Recreational Activities See Grand Mesa National Forest for further info. top MBRNF Medicine Bow - Routt National Forests Recreational Activities They stretch from northern Colorado thru Wyoming. top MVNP Mesa Verde National Park Recreational Activities Chapin Mesa Map ** Wetherill Mesa Map Headquarters and Museum Map ** Park Map Mesa Verde, Spanish for "green table", offers an unparalleled opportunity to see and experience a unique cultural and physical landscape. The culture represented at Mesa Verde reflects more than 700 years of history. From approximately A.D. 600 through A.D. 1300 people lived and flourished in communities throughout the area, eventually building elaborate stone villages in the sheltered alcoves of the canyon walls. Today most people call these sheltered villages "cliff dwellings". The cliff dwellings represent the last 75 to 100 years of occupation at Mesa Verde. In the late 1200s within the span of one or two generations, they left their homes and moved away. The archeological sites found in Mesa Verde are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States. Mesa Verde National Park offers visitors a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people. Scientists study the ancient dwellings of Mesa Verde, in part, by making comparisons between the Ancestral Pueblo people and their contemporary indigenous descendants who still live in the Southwest today. Twenty-four Native American tribes in the southwest have an ancestral affiliation with the sites at Mesa Verde. To fully enjoy Mesa Verde National Park, plan to spend a day or two exploring its world-class archeological sites as well as its beautiful landscape. top PSINFCCNG Pike/San Isabel National Forest and Cimarron/Comanche National Grasslands From the short grass prairies to the alpine tundra this area provides opportunities for everyone. This forest and grassland grouping offers nearly 3 million acres of public lands. Part or all of 7 different Wildernesses are included: Mount Evans, Lost Creek, Sangre De Cristo, Collegiate Peaks, Buffalo Peaks, Mount Massive and Holy Cross. We cover the southeast corner of Colorado and into western Kansas. Diversity exists in many ways, from the cultures of the communities we surround to the ecosystems, flora and fauna. Pike National Forest Map ** San Isabel National Forest Map Comanche National Grassland Leadville Ranger District Trails ** Map Pikes Peak Ranger District Trails ** Map San Carlos Ranger District Trails ** Map Salida Ranger District Map South Park Ranger District Trails ** Map South Platte Ranger District Map top RGNF Rio Grande National Forest The Rio Grande National Forest (NF) is 1.86 million acres located in southwestern Colorado and remains one of the true undiscovered jewels of Colorado. The Continental Divide runs for 236 miles along most of the western border of the Forest. The Forest presents myriad ecosystems; from 7600-ft alpine desert to over 14,300-ft in the majestic Sangre de Cristo Wilderness on the eastern side. The Forest embraces the San Luis Valley, the largest agricultural alpine valley in the world and includes all or parts of four Wilderness Areas (South San Juan, Weminuche, La Garita and Sangre de Cristo). The Forest also is the headwaters of the Rio Grande River and has the moonscape wonder of the Wheeler Geologic Area, established by Theodore Roosevelt in 1911. The Anasazi were visitors here and many of their sites remain. top RMNP Rocky Mountain National Park Recreational Activities Park Map(pdf) * Park Map The park exhibits the massive grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. Trail Ridge Road crosses the Continental Divide and looks out over dozens of peaks that tower more than 13,000 feet high. Longs Peak, the highest peak in the park, is 14,259' in elevation. The high point on Trail Ridge Road is 12,183'. The road is closed from late fall, to the Memorial Day weekend. Because of the high elevation of the park (8,000' to over 14,000') visitors need to take time to acclimatize. People with various medical problems should check with their physician before coming to the park. Hiking is available on over 359 miles of trails. Many trails can be hiked any time of the year. June and July are the best months for seeing wild flowers. top RNF Roosevelt National Forest Check under Araphoe National Forest for more information. top SJNF San Juan National Forest Recreation Activities Stretches across southwest Colorado Columbine Ranger District Trails Pagosa Ranger District Hiking and Horse Trails top UNF Uncompahgre National Forest Recreational Activities See Grand Mesa National Forest for further info. top WRNF White River National Forest The two and one-quarter million acre White River National Forest is located in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, approximately two to four hours west of Denver on Interstate 70. The scenic beauty of the area, along with ample developed and undeveloped recreation opportunities on the Forest, accounts for the fact that the White River consistently ranks as one of the top five Forests nationwide for total recreation use. top Related pages: Trails, Zoos, Birds Descriptions were taken directly from corresponding websites.		More States   ArizonaLinks.Net   IdahoLinks.Net   MontanaLinks.US   NevadaLinks.Net   NewMexicoLinks.Net   UtahLinks.Net   WyomingLinks.Net
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