Biking, hiking, cross-country skiing
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|  State and National Parks and Forests in the USAState Parks and Forests | National Parks | National Forests | Resources
Park and forest lands in the USA are prime sites for outdoor recreation. Parks and forests are managed by various government bodies, from the municipal to federal level. Each state manages its own network of state parks and state forests. National parks are under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service while national forests are the responsibility of the Forest Service branch of the Department of Agriculture. State ParksMany state parks have a number of trails that are suitable for outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing. In many states there are long-distance trails that can be used for bicycle touring. Most state parks have campgrounds and in a few states there are cabin rentals for overnight accommodation. Day or annual passes are usually required to enter state parks. In most cases a vehicle pass is required, though some states require a pass for each adult. Check the park page for each state for specific information. National ParksNational parks are intended to preserve areas of unique ecosystems and land forms such as the Grand Canyon. There are also national recreation areas and lake shores where the primary purpose is recreation. Passes are required for all vehicles and all persons on foot entering national parks. An annual pass can be purchased for a specific park or for all national parks. Many national parks have campgrounds, though they often have limited services for trailers and RVs. Reservations for many federal campgrounds can be made through ReserveUSA. National ForestsNational forests evolved from a government program to purchase bankrupt farms during the early 20th century. They differ from national parks in that they are managed on a supposedly sustainable basis to accommodate lumber harvesting, livestock grazing and recreation, among other activities. There are also unexploited wilderness areas where only travel by foot or non-motorized boat is permitted. Thousands of miles of roads and trails throughout the national forests are ideal for activities such as hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing. Many trails are also open to horseback riding, snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. Each national forest is divided into districts, each with its own ranger station where information about the trails can be obtained. Many national forests have recently started to require permits for parking vehicles at trailheads. Several western states require Snow Park passes for trailhead parking during the winter to fund the cost of clearing snow from the parking area. National forests usually have several campgrounds, usually with few services provided. Some national forests have cabins and fire lookouts that can be rented for overnight accommodation at reasonable rates. Top Bureau of Land ManagementThe BLM oversees millions of acres of public land, mainly in the western states. On those lands there are recreation areas with campgrounds and thousands of miles of trails. Top Parks and Forests by StateVisit one of our regional pages for more info about parks in a particular state:
Top Parks ResourcesNational Parks - each park has a Web site with details about its activities and services. www.nps.gov National Forests - each national forest has a Web site with information about its activities and trails. www.fs.fed.us US Fish & Wildlife Service - wildlife refuges. www.fws.us Bureau of Land Management - details about recreation on public lands. www.blm.gov ReserveUSA - reservation service for campsites and cabins on federal lands. www.reserveusa.com Nature of the Northwest - campsite reservations and cabin rentals in Oregon and Washington national forests. www.naturenw.org Other United States Outdoor Pages
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