The 6,758-ha Manitou Experimental Forest straddles the watershed of Trout Creek, a tributary of the South Platte River, about 48 km northwest of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Manitou Park area contained within the forest was originally the property of Dr. William Bell, an English physician and Colorado pioneer who had established a number of enterprises on the property, including logging, ranching, resort hotels, and a trout farm. He ultimately gave the remainder of his holdings to Colorado College to establish a school of forestry and be used as a forestry field camp. The Manitou was established in 1936 from land donated to the Forest Service after Colorado College closed its forestry school, from surrounding National Forest System land, and from other purchased properties. As a result, the Manitou contains more than 100 private holdings within its borders, including a major subdivision occupying over 284 ha.
Currently, the site is home to several meteorological, ecological and biological research initiatives, including the BEACHON project, an NADP monitoring site, and a long-term Flammulated Owl study to name a few.
