Congress has designated several areas unique for their special characteristics and the opportunities they offer. In addition to congressionally designated wilderness and wild and scenic rivers, they include these National Historic Landmarks (NHL), National Volcanic Monuments (NVM), National Historic Scenic Areas (NHS), National Recreation Areas (NRA), Scenic Recreation Areas (SRA), National Scenic Areas (NSA), National Preserves (NP), and National Monuments (NM).
Contact the managing National Forest to learn more about these special areas.
State(s) |
National Forest |
Area Name |
Acres |
Establishment Date & Public Law |
Alaska | Tongass | Admiralty Island NM | 978,881 | 12/2/80 PL 96-487 |
Alaska | Tongass | Misty Fiords NM | 2,293,428 | 12/2/80 PL 96-487 |
California | Shasta-Trinity |
Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity NRA | 176,367 | 11/8/65 PL 89-336 |
California | Sequoia | Giant Sequoia NM | 327,769 | 4/15/2000 EO 7295 |
California | San Bernardino |
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains NM | 272,000 | 10/24/2000 PL 106-351 |
California | Inyo | Mono Basin NSA | 115,600 | 9/28/84 PL 98-425 |
California |
Six Rivers |
Smith River NRA |
305,169 |
11/16/90 PL 101-612 |
Colorado |
Arapaho, Roosevelt |
Arapaho NRA |
30,690 |
10/11/78 PL 95-450 |
Georgia |
Chattahoochee |
Ed Jenkins NRA |
23,166 |
12/11/91 PL 102-217* |
Georgia |
Chattahoochee |
Coosa Bald NSA |
7,100 |
12/11/91 PL 102-217 |
Idaho |
Sawtooth, Challis, Boise |
Sawtooth NRA |
729,322 |
8/22/72 PL 92-400 |
Kentucky, Tennessee |
(Admin. Unit) |
Land Between the Lakes NRA |
170,000 |
10/21/98 PL 105-277 |
Michigan |
Hiawatha |
Grand Island NRA |
12,961 |
5/17/90 PL 101-292 |
Montana |
Lolo |
Rattlesnake NRA |
59,119 |
10/19/80 PL 97-476 |
Nebraska |
Nebraska |
Pine Ridge NRA |
6,600 |
10/20/86 PL 99-504 |
Nevada |
Toiyabe |
Spring Mountain NRA |
316,000 |
8/4/93 PL 103-63 |
New Mexico |
Santa Fe |
Jemez NRA |
57,000 |
10/12/93 PL 103-104 |
New Mexico |
Santa Fe |
Valles Caldera National Preserve |
88,900 |
7/25/2000 PL 106-248 |
Oklahoma |
Ouachita |
Winding Stair Mountain NRA |
25,890 |
10/18/88 PL 100-499 |
Oklahoma |
Ouachita |
Indian Nations NS & Wildlife Area |
40,051 |
10/18/88 PL 100-499 |
Oklahoma |
Ouachita |
Beech Creek NS & Botanic Area |
7,500 |
10/18/88 PL 100-499 |
Oregon |
Mount Hood |
Mount Hood NRA |
34,550 |
3/30/09 PL 111-11 |
Oregon |
Siuslaw |
Cascade Head NS(Res)A |
6,630 |
12/22/74 16PL 93-535 |
Oregon |
Siuslaw |
Oregon Dunes NRA |
27,212 |
3/23/72 PL 92-260 |
Oregon |
Deschutes |
Newberry NVM |
54,822 |
11/5/90 PL 101-522 |
Oregon |
Willamette |
Opal Creek SRA |
13,000 |
11/12/96 PL 104-333 |
Oregon, Idaho |
Wallowa, Nez Perce, Payette |
Hells Canyon NRA |
536,648 |
12/31/75 PL 94-199 |
Oregon, Washington |
(Admin. Unit) |
Columbia River Gorge NSA |
63,150 |
11/17/86 PL 99-663 |
Pennsylvania |
Allegheny |
Allegheny NRA |
23,063 |
10/30/84 PL 98-585 |
Pennsylvania |
Grey Towers NHL |
Grey Towers NHL |
102 |
5/23/63 DOI Proclamation |
Utah, Wyoming |
Ashley |
Flaming Gorge NRA |
189,825 |
10/1/68 PL 90-540 |
Vermont |
Green Mountain |
Moosalamoo NRA |
15,857 |
12/1/2006 PL 109-382 |
Vermont |
Green Mountain |
White Rocks NRA |
36,400 |
6/19/84 PL 98-332 |
Virginia |
Jefferson |
Mount Rogers NRA |
114,520 |
5/31/66 PL 92-260 |
Virginia |
Jefferson |
Seng Mountain NSA |
5,192 |
3/30/09 PL 111-11 |
Virginia |
Jefferson |
Bear Creek NSA |
5,128 |
3/30/09 PL 111-11 |
Virginia |
George Washington |
Mount Pleasant NSA |
7,580 |
8/26/94 PL 103-314 |
Washington |
Mt.Baker-Snoqualmie |
Mount Baker NRA |
8,473 |
7/3/84 PL 98-339 |
Washington |
Gifford Pinchot |
Mount St. Helens NVM |
112,593 |
8/26/89 PL 97-243 |
Washington |
Mt.Baker-Snoqualmie, Okanogan |
North Cascades NSA |
87,600 |
7/3/84 PL 98-339 |
West Virginia |
Monongahela |
Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks NRA |
57,237 |
9/28/65 PL 89-207 |
- * Originally designated as Springer Mtn NRA.
Name changed to Ed Jenkins by PL 102-456 10/23/92.
Other Congressionally Designated Areas
(National Management Emphasis Areas)
State(s) |
National Forest(s) |
Area Name |
Acres |
Establishment Date & Public Law |
Alaska |
Tongass |
Anan Creek LUD II |
38,415 |
11/28/90 PL 101-626 Sec. 201 |
|
|
Berners Bay LUD II |
46,000 |
|
|
|
Kadashan LUD II |
33,641 |
|
|
|
Lisianski River/Upper Hoonah Sound LUD II |
137,538 |
|
|
|
Mt. Calder/Mt. Holbrook LUD II |
64,040 |
|
|
|
Naha LUD II |
31,794 |
|
|
|
Nutkwa LUD II |
28,118 |
|
|
|
Outside Islands LUD II |
75,017 |
|
|
|
Point Adolphus/Mud Bay LUD II |
113,326 |
|
|
|
Salmon Bay LUD II |
10,000 |
|
|
|
Trap Bay LUD II |
6,646 |
|
|
|
Yakutat Forelands LUD II |
137,947 |
|
California |
Sierra, Sequoia |
Kings River Special Mgmt Area |
48,668 |
11/3/87 16USC539g |
|
Humboldt-Toiyabe |
Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area |
7,254 |
3/30/09 PL 111-11 |
|
Lake Tahoe Basin Mgmt Unit |
Lake Tahoe Basin Mgmt Unit |
148,800 |
12/23/80 PL 96-586 Sec. 1,2,3 |
Colorado |
Gunnison |
Fossil Ridge Recreation Mgmt Area |
43,900 |
8/13/93 16USC539i |
|
Arapaho |
Bowen Gulch Protection Area |
11,600 |
8/13/93 PL 103-77 |
|
San Juan |
Piedra Area |
62,550 |
8/13/93 PL 103-77 |
|
Uncompahgre |
Roubideau Area |
19,650 |
8/13/93 PL 103-77 |
|
Uncompahgre |
Taubeguache Area |
9,193 |
8/13/93 PL 103-77 |
Missouri |
Mark Twain |
Greer Spring Special Mgmt Area |
6,894 |
12/11/91 16USC539h |
Montana |
Gallatin |
Le Metcalf Recreation & Wildlife Mgmt Area |
38,000 |
10/31/83 PL 98-140 Sec. 2(c) |
Oregon |
Umpqua, Winema, Willamette, Deschutes |
Oregon Cascade Recreation Area |
156,900 |
6/26/84 16USC460oo |
|
Mount Hood |
Crystal Springs Watershed Special Resources Management Unit |
|
3/30/09 PL 111-11 |
Utah |
Dixie |
Anotne Bench and Areas 2, 3, 4, & 5 Mineral Areas |
1,600 |
9/28/84 PL 98-428 not codified |
Washington |
Mt. Baker-Snoqualamie |
Alpine Lakes Mgmt Area |
547,155 |
10/19/76 16USC1132 Sec. 306(a) |
|