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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. more »

Spotlight

2006 Capitol Christmas Tree

Since 1970, the "people's tree" has come from a National Forest. The Capitol Christmas Tree is not to be confused with the Nation's Christmas tree, which is planted near the White House and is lit by the President. This year, the tree is a majestic, 65-foot tall Pacific Silver Fir from the Olympic National Forest and will be decorated with 10,000 lights and 3,000 ornaments handmade by schoolchildren from across Washington State.

The highlight of the Capitol's Christmas season will be a simple, but dramatic lighting ceremony, to be held today at 5pm (Dec. 6th) on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol (across from the Botanic Gardens), in which the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives will light the spectacular tree, continuing a tradition begun in 1964.

The tree will be lit every evening from December 6th 2006 through January 1, 2007, from sundown until 11:00 p.m.

Partnership activity to find "More Kids in the Woods"

Want to help kids grow stronger, develop healthy social skills and succeed in their academic studies? The Forest Service “More Kids in the Woods” pilot program will award at least $50K for projects in 2007 to new or existing partnerships that engage children in outdoor recreation and experiential learning activities. more »

Northwest Passage Scenic Byway, Colorado

A nationally designated Department of Transportation (DOT) All-American Road, the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway runs east and west for 202 miles across northern Idaho on US 12, between Lewiston on the Snake River at the Washington border to Lolo Pass at the Mountain border. In 1803, President Jefferson commissioned Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to find the Northwest Passage, the link between the Missouri River and the Columbia River through the unexplored Rocky Mountains. The byway follows the explorer’s route through the ancestral homeland of the Nez Perce people. Part of the byway crosses through the Clearwater National Forest and offers the byway traveler variety of recreational activities including boating, fishing, heritage sites and year-round wildlife viewing, and summer community festivals and powwows. The Northwest Passage was designated as an All-American Road by the Secretary of Transportation in 2005.

The Forest Service has been a major partner of the U.S. Department of Transportation (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 these byways and to help plan next your next trip to one of the 155 National Forests and Grasslands, visit the National Scenic Byways website. more »

Features

First Annual Photo Contest for New Federal Recreation Lands Pass

Do you have the winning photo for the 2008 "America the Beautiful" National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass ? Does your photo from one of the nation's most magnificent national forests, parks or monuments capture the essence of the recreation experience available to all from America's beloved lands?

Beginning in 2007, a new interagency recreation pass authorized by the Recreation Enhancement Act will be available to recreation visitors for use at any federal recreation site which requires a fee. Beginning in 2008, the annual pass will feature a photo showcasing a federal recreation site on lands managed by the Forest Service or the Department of Interior's land management agencies which include the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The photo contest ends Dec. 31. For more information about eligibility and prizes visit :www.nationalparks.eprize.net/experiencephoto/

Biscuit Fire Recovery

Responses to questions asked by the House and Senate Committee Appropriations concerning the Biscuit Fire in southern Oregon - March 2006. more »

Four Threats

Fire and fuels, invasive species, loss of open space, and unmanaged recreation are the four threats identified by Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth as having the greatest impact on the health of our Nation’s forests and grasslands. To learn more about each threat, visit the Four Threats section of our web site. more  »

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! more »