Forest Facts
The Shoshone National Forest
covers nearly 2.5 million acres, with more than 1.5 million acres
of wilderness. It contains some of the most rugged, remote and scenic
areas in the country. Elevations on the Shoshone range from 4,600
feet at the mouth of the spectacular Clarks Fork Canyon to 13,804
feet on Gannett Peak, Wyoming's highest point.
History
The Shoshone National Forest
was first created in 1891 as the Yellowstone Timberland Reserve.
Later this became the Shoshone National Forest, the first national
forest in the nation. It is named for the Shoshoni Indians who lived
in this area. The Arapahoe, Blackfeet, Commanche, Crow, Nez Perce,
Northern Cheyenne, and Souix tribes also hunted, traveled, traded
and fought in the area. Such mountain men as John Colter and Jim
Bridger were early visitors as well. The ghost town of Kirwin, an
early-day mining town, is a window to the past, recalling one of
the colorful eras in Wyoming's history. The remains of tie hack
flumes and cabins on the southern end of the forest are reminders
of another era during which millions of railroad ties were produced.
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Organization
Forest Supervisor Rebecca Aus
leads a team of 7 staff officers and approximately 100 total employees
dispersed between a Supervisors Office and five District Offices.
See our Organization page
for district information.
Recreation
Three mountain ranges, hundreds
of alpine lakes, rushing streams, backcountry trails, scenic roads
and a plethora of wildlife provide diverse recreation opportunities.
Hunting, fishing, camping, backpacking, mountain climbing, ice climbing,
horseback riding, rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, motor touring,
photography, wildlife viewing, skiing and snowmobiling are some
of the activities that can be enjoyed on the Shoshone. Check out
our Recreation page.
Also, review our Special
Orders page before recreating. Special Orders are current restricitions
on activities or areas on the Shoshone.
Natural Resources
The Forest Service is all about
sustaining resources—land, water, vegetation, and wildlife.
Heritage resources are important remnants of the past—prehistoric
and historic human culture and ancient animal life. See our Natural
Resources page.
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Rules & Regulations
General rules for national forests
and grasslands include details about camping, pets, firearms, permits,
and more. See our Special
Orders page before recreating to be informed of specific regulations
here on the Shoshone.
Service First
Service First is a partnership between the Forest Service and
Bureau of Land Management. This partnership provides one-stop shopping,
just as the trading post did in the frontier days.
Working With Others
Forest Service staff work with
volunteers, teachers, groups, tribes, permittees, contractors, and
other agencies. |