America's 5 Greatest National Forests

1. Tongass National Forest (Alaska)

Encompassing 16.5 million acres, Tongass National Forest is larger than half the state of North Carolina. This vast wilderness is famous for its expansive stands of Sitka spruce, western hemlock and cedar, while also featuring dramatic glaciers and ice fields. The forest contains ancient trees dating back 800 years, with one-third of its area designated as federal wilderness. This pristine environment provides habitat for brown bears, black bears, mountain goats, black-tailed deer, and bald eagles.

2. Gifford Pinchot National Forest (Washington)

Centered around the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, this forest showcases unique geological formations including tunnels and caves formed by ancient lava flows. The 2.5-mile-long Ape Cave stands as a popular attraction, while a section of the Pacific Crest Trail draws hiking enthusiasts. The forest's waterways support chinook salmon, coho salmon, and various trout species, while elk, black bears, mountain goats and bobcats roam its terrain.

3. White Mountain National Forest (New Hampshire)

Spanning over 800,000 acres, this forest preserves some of the Northeast's most pristine wilderness, including the Presidential Mountain Range. The highlight is 6,288-foot Mount Washington, notorious for having the "world's worst weather" with recorded wind speeds exceeding 200 mph. The forest's lower elevations feature maple, oak, and pine stands, giving way to spruce and fir at higher altitudes. Visitors may spot moose, black bears, and peregrine falcons throughout the area.

4. Bridger-Teton National Forest (Wyoming)

As part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem - one of the world's largest intact temperate ecosystems - this forest contains 1.2 million acres of protected wilderness along the Continental Divide. The landscape features glaciers, alpine meadows, limestone peaks, and hundreds of miles of protected rivers. The Gros Ventre Slide Geologic Area reveals evidence of a massive 1925 landslide that created Lower Slide Lake. Wildlife includes moose, grizzly bears, elk, and bighorn sheep.

5. Superior National Forest (Minnesota)

This beloved Midwest wilderness features the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a million-acre network of lakes and forests carved by ancient glaciers along the Canadian border. The area offers exceptional opportunities for kayaking, canoeing and fishing amid pine, fir and spruce forests. Notably, it serves as one of the last strongholds for gray wolves in the continental United States, while also supporting moose, lynx and black bear populations.