Welcome to the Colville National Forest
The Colville National Forest disproves the widely held notion that Washington state lies flat east of the Cascade Mountains. Today's 1.5-million-acre forest was first shaped over 10,000 years ago by Ice Age glaciers that carved three major valleys of today's Columbia, San Poil-Curlew, and Pend Oreille River flowing north into Canada before entering the Columbia River.
During President Theodore Roosevelt's two terms in office, he set aside millions of acres of forest reserves. Roosevelt proclaimed sixteen million acres of new reserves, sometimes referred to as midnight reserves, before signing an appropriations bill from Congress that would prohibit the President from creating any new forest preserves in those states. The Colville Forest Reserve, created on 1 March 1907, was thus created.
Presently, the Colville National Forest has 1.5 million acres in northeastern Washington and includes the Kettle River, Selkirk Mountain ranges, and the upper reaches of the Columbia River.
Photos from across the Forest
Most Requested Information
Recreation Opportunities
Visitor Resources
Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov is the government's centralized travel planning platform and reservation system for 14 federal agencies, offering the tools, tips, and information needed for you to discover destinations and activities, plan a trip, and explore outdoor and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. Find and reserve incredible experiences on the Colville National Forest and more!
Discover Your Northwest
Discover Your Northwest promotes discovery of Northwest public lands, enriches the experience of visitors, and encourages stewardship of these special places today and for generations to come. Find map and books about the area, recreation passes and more.
Request for Expressed Interest
Potential Developed Recreation Concessionaire Opportunities
The Colville National Forest has prepared a Request for Expressed Interest to determine levels of interest in potential future of developed recreation concession opportunities. Public and private entities who are interested in managing the sites under a permit must provide their submissions by close of business on July 1, 2026.