Manti–La Sal National Forest
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
La Sal Mountains as seen from Arches National Park
Map showing the location of Manti–La Sal National Forest
Map showing the location of Manti–La Sal National Forest
LocationMesa and Montrose counties, Colorado and Carbon, Emery, Grand, San Juan, Sanpete, and Sevier counties, Utah, U.S.
Nearest cityMoab, UT
Coordinates39°17′N 111°25.5′W / 39.283°N 111.4250°W / 39.283; -111.4250[1]
Area1,270,886 acres (5,143.09 km2)[2]
EstablishedManti–La Sal: August 28, 1950;
Manti: May 29, 1903;
La Sal: January 25, 1906[3]
Visitors900,000 (in 2006)[4]
Governing bodyU.S. Forest Service
WebsiteManti–La Sal National Forest

The Manti–La Sal National Forest covers more than 1.2 million acres (4,900 km2)[2] and is located in the central and southeastern parts of the U.S. state of Utah and the extreme western part of Colorado. The forest is headquartered in Price, with ranger district offices in Price, Ferron, Ephraim, Moab and Monticello.[5] The maximum elevation is Mount Peale in the La Sal Mountains, reaching 12,721 feet (3,877 m) above sea level. The La Sal Mountains are the second highest mountain range in Utah after the Uintas. Parts of the forest are included in the Bears Ears National Monument.

First snow in La Sal Forest

Location and history

The La Sal Mountain loop road leads from Castle Valley to Geyser Pass and back down to Moab. Scenic Oowah Lake can be found within the forest.

In descending order of land area, the forest is located in parts of San Juan, Sanpete, Emery, Utah, Grand, Carbon, and Sevier counties in Utah, as well as Montrose, and Mesa counties in Colorado (Only about 2.1% of the forest lies in Colorado). Forest headquarters is located in Price, Utah. District offices are located in Ephraim, Ferron, Moab, Monticello, and Price.[6]

The forest was originally established as the Manti Forest Reserve by the United States General Land Office on May 29, 1903, with 584,640 acres (2,366.0 km2). On July 1, 1915 Nebo National Forest was added, and La Sal National Forest on November 11, 1949. On August 28, 1950, the name became Manti–La Sal National Forest.[7]

On December 28, 2016, President Barack Obama proclaimed the 1.35 million acre Bears Ears National Monument, which includes most of the Monticello Ranger District on the forest and the Dark Canyon Wilderness.

Recreation

Manti–La Sal National Forest is very popular for recreation. The northern district on the Wasatch Plateau is well known for the Skyline Drive, an unpaved road tracing along the backbone of the plateau. There is also an extensive ATV trail system in the forest there. The Moab District in the La Sal Mountains contains a number of hiking trails, as well as views over the desert regions of Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park. The Monticello District is home the Manti–La Sal National Forest's only wilderness area, the Dark Canyon Wilderness, a vast, remote canyon area.[8] The Manti–La Sal National Forest, a 1.4 million acre mountain range, occupies parts of central and southeastern Utah, as well as parts of Colorado. The La Sal Mountains are lush with lakes, pine, aspen and evergreen trees, wildlife, and recreation. An easy drive from Moab, the La Sal Mountains not only provide a stunning visual contrast to the red rock town, but also a climactic, and recreational contrast as well.[9]

Fall Aspen foliage in La Sal Mountains

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Manti–La Sal National Forest". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Land Areas of the National Forest System" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. January 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  3. ↑ "The National Forests of the United States" (PDF). ForestHistory.org. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  4. ↑ Staff (April 2010). "Utah Forest Highway Long Range Transportation Plan" (PDF). Central Federal Lands Highway Division. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  5. ↑ "Welcome to the Manti–La Sal National Forest". U.S. Forest Service.
  6. ↑ "USFS Ranger Districts by State" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  7. ↑ Davis, Richard C. (September 29, 2005), National Forests of the United States (PDF), The Forest History Society, archived from the original (PDF) on October 28, 2012
  8. ↑ "Manti–La Sal National Forest". Utah.com. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Manti-La Sal National Forest - Moab, Utah".
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