Feature Stories

Editor’s Note: Today is the second anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, which gave the Forest Service new opportunities to deliver benefits to Americans through major investments in

As wildfires burn across the American west, firefighters from Maine to California respond to the call. But who initiates the call? Behind every engine, helicopter, fixed wing aircraft and firefighter

Editors’ note: The Great American Outdoors Act supports the Forest Service in delivering benefits to the American public through major investments in recreation infrastructure, public lands access

During this Great Outdoors Month, try to imagine you inherited millions of acres of forest and grasslands teaming with wild animals, brilliant wildflowers, deep blue lakes, rushing rivers, unspoiled

Late spring heralds the start of open water fishing season. In much of the country, even the most stubborn winter ice has long since receded. Cold water species like trout rise to the surface to feed

The Middle Fork of the Salmon River originates at the confluence of Marsh and Bear Valley Creeks in central Idaho near Stanley. The wild and scenic river winds 104 miles to where it eventually meets

Editor’s Note: This feature coincides with the 30th anniversary of National Trails Day on June 4, which is sponsored by the American Hiking Society, and Great Outdoors Month, a celebration of the

America’s national forests and grasslands are popular destinations for recreational activities like swimming, hiking and rock climbing. But did you know that they also offer opportunities for

Invasive non-native insects have been called the “wildfires of the East,” given the damage they cause to trees. One pest, the emerald ash borer, has killed hundreds of millions of rural and urban ash

(Adapted from CompassLive) The only way to understand the nuances of working a fireline is by being on one. The six-year-old Fire Tigers Program recently took more than 50 Clemson University students

If you want to know how many acres of forest in your state were converted to agriculture, what the last hurricane did to forests in its path, or how much carbon is stored in the trees in your county

There are hikers who look to Colorado’s peaks as a lifetime goal to climb at least one mountain higher than 14,000 feet above sea level. Then there is Loretta McEllhiney. Over the last 33-plus years

In a garden, earthworms can be great for soil. And a worm is a worm is a worm, right? Except that there are more than 7,000 species of worms, and the longer you look, the more complex their world

Joscelyn flashed a wide grin as she rolled back onto the paved parking lot, her cheeks rosy with windburn from the spring air. She pulled the break lever and brought the electric bicycle to a sudden

Editor’s note: The USDA Forest Service recently announced a 10-year strategy to confront the wildfire crisis and improve forest resilience . Increasing fuels treatments will be paramount to create