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.

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Spotlight

Fall Colors 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 at (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 more than 29,000 callers and we are continually growing.

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The Highland Scenic Highway

The Highland Scenic Highway is designated a National Scenic Byway by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and traverses the Appalachian highlands of the Monongahela National Forest. The route travels 45 miles between the communities of Richwood and Marlinton, West Virginia, following State Routes 39 and 150. The route is known for it's long distance views into neighboring Virginia, and for spectacular fall color. Much of the highway is located above 4,000' elevation, making it West Virginia's "highest highway". This highway provides access to a variety of recreation facilities and activities, including the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center, the Falls Of Hills Creek, Cranberry Glades botanical area, and the Cranberry Wilderness. Campgrounds, scenic overlooks, trailheads, and fishing sites are all available along the route.

The Forest Service has been a major partner of the 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 the America’s Byways® collection, and planning your next trip to one of the 155 National Forests and Grasslands visit the National Scenic Byways website.

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Climate Change Video

Climate change is one of the most urgent challenges facing all of us. Since conservation of our nation's forests and grasslands is a primary mission of the U.S. Forest Service, we are working in many positive ways to respond to this challenge. We invite you to take a few minutes to watch our new video, The Forest Service and Climate Change, and see for yourself how the rise in global temperatures is affecting our planet and the unique role trees play in helping to slow the impact of climate change.

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Celebrating Wildflowers

The dog days of summer are now behind us. Plans for autumn drives and fall hikes are being made in anticipation of nature’s blazing display of fall color; from the golden yellows of aspen in the west to the brilliant reds, orange and yellows of maples in the east. But take just a moment and gaze across the meadows, prairies, and woodlands and behold the regal display of our autumn wildflowers. Members of the aster family dressed in their finest yellows, blues, whites and pinks take center stage. You will delight in what you see as sunflowers, black-eyed Susans, asters, and many more put on a display to rival the wildflowers of spring. Come join us on our national forests and grasslands and enjoy the culmination of the year’s wildflower displays.

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Climate Change, Water and Kids

The American tradition of conservation dates to the 19th century. For more than a hundred years, the Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has built on that tradition by caring for the land and serving people. Over time, the challenges we face have changed. Today, three great challenges cut across the conservation work we do Climate Change, Water and Kids. These are not new topics for us, but they offer a context to build on. Recognizing that context means using our knowledge of cross-cutting issues at the broadest scale to better care for the land and serve people. The Forest Service is acting on a national scale to meet these challenges. Read more »

Discover what the Forest Service's Research and Development program is doing about climate change in your region of the country. Map »

Share the Experience Photo Contest 2008

Calling all outdoor enthusiasts, amateur shutterbugs, wildlife lovers or history buffs! We invite you to share your favorite photos of your visits to America’s Federal Recreation Lands by entering the 2008 “Share the Experience” Photo Contest, sponsored by Olympus Imaging America Inc. and the National Park Foundation. Your winning photo could grace the front of the 2010 Federal Recreation Lands Pass! Visit www.sharetheexperience.org to enter your photos from July 23rd to December 31st or pick up a brochure and entry form while visiting a Federal Recreation Land this year. Great prizes include: Olympus digital cameras, trips to a federal recreation areas, Federal Recreation Lands Passes and more!

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Features

National Recreation Trails Photo Contest

American Trails is sponsoring the 2008 contest for photographs of National Recreation Trails across the country. We're looking for good photos of trail users as well as special facilities, art on the trails, management issues, construction, and volunteers. We also want to see entries that cover the many types and uses of National Recreation Trails throughout America. Photos of any designated National Recreation Trail are eligible. The goal is to highlight the diversity of the NRTs and to make more Americans familiar with these great trails. The deadline for entries is November 30, 2008. For more information please visit the NRT website.

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Performance & Accountability

The Forest Service Performance and Accountability Report - Fiscal Year 2006 is now available. As required by law, this document integrates the Forest Service's annual performance report with its annual consolidated financial statements.

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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!

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