Geospatial Data

U.S. Forest Service - National Geospatial Data

The USDA Forest Service Geodata Clearinghouse is an online collection of digital data related to forest resources. Through the Clearinghouse you can find GIS datasets related to forests and grasslands, including boundaries and ownership, natural resources, roads and trails, as well as datasets related to State and private forested areas, including insect and disease threat and surface water importance. You can also find downloadable map products, raster data, and links to other sources of forest resource information.

For KML and other file formats visit the Forest Service Geospatial Data Discovery page. This ArcGIS Online data hub has many current Forest Service GIS data layers. The U.S. Forest Service has configured this open data site to help our partners and the public discover geospatial data published by the Agency. Use it together with your data to create maps, apps and other information products. Need a tour? Check out our tutorial "How to download data from the Forest Service Geospatial Data Discovery Page" (PDF, 253kb).

Region One VMap

The R1 VMap geospatial database relates vegetation attributes to spatially unique polygons, or delineations, of vegetation patterns. The VMap database provides four primary map products; lifeform, tree canopy cover class, tree size class, and tree dominance type to support mid and base-level analysis and planning. VMap uses the Region 1 Existing Vegetation Classification System (R1-ExVeg) (Barber, et.al. 2009) in its map unit design.

VMap is a remote sensing derived product. As such, it uses a combination of high resolution airborne imagery and a nationally available digital elevation model (DEM)

Region One Interactive Fire History Map

Fire plays a natural role in the Lolo National Forest and NW Montana ecosystem. It promotes vegetative and wildlife diversity and eliminates heavy fuel accumulations that can lead to catastrophic wildfire if not removed. Natural fires occur about every 5-25 years, and they tend to be low intensity, ground fires that remove woody shrubs. The ponderosa pine, a common tree of the area, is well-adapted to fire. It relies on low intensity fires to burn litter and release soil nutrients, providing a good seedbed for ponderosa pine seeds. Explore our new interactive fire history map for the Northern Region to see how fire has burned across the landscape in the past decades. Note: This map covers Forest Service lands in the Northern Region. How to use the interactive fire history map.

GIS Data Disclaimer

The Forest Service uses the most current and complete data available. GIS data and product accuracy may vary. They may be: developed from sources of differing accuracy, accurate only at certain scales, based on modeling or interpretation, incomplete while being created or revised, etc. Using GIS products for purposes other than those for which they were created, may yield inaccurate or misleading results. The Forest Service reserves the right to correct, update, modify, or replace, GIS products without notification.

Other Forest Data

All files are 1 MB or less unless otherwise noted.