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Recreation
Here at the Forest Service, we work to sustainably manage the land - providing both a beautiful, natural landscape and a variety of recreational opportunities for you to enjoy, national forests provide clean water, clean air, and miles of undeveloped habitat for a variety of plants and animals. The use of public lands is a wonderful privilege, and each forest is managed based upon its unique landscape. Please be sure to visit your local forest offices before heading outdoors in order to get information on current conditions, as well as any permits you may need.
Find a Recreation Area on a National Forest in the Eastern Region
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Allegheny National Forest- Pennsylvania
The Allegheny National Forest offers a wide variety of recreation activities, including boating, camping, hunting, fishing, ATV riding and snowmobiling, resulting in about 4 million recreation visitor days annually.
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Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest- Wisconsin
Explore the more than 1.5 million acres of water and woodlands offering year-round motorized trail riding, water- and land-based sports, and the solitude of quiet campgrounds.
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Chippewa National Forest- Minnesota
The Chippewa National Forest, located in the heart of northern Minnesota, celebrates seasons, culture and environment. Come explore the big lakes, pines and all the forest offers.
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Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests- Vermont and New York
The Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests are Vermont's and New York's only public, federally managed national forests.
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Hiawatha National Forest- Michigan
Located in Michigan's wild and scenic Upper Peninsula, the Hiawatha National Forest's dramatic shorelines lie nestled up to Lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan—three of the five great lakes.
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Hoosier National Forest- Indiana
Hoosier National Forest, in the hills of south-central Indiana, provides a wide mix of opportunities and resources for people to enjoy. Rolling hills, back-country trails and rural crossroad communities make this small but beautiful 204,000-acre forest a local treasure.
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Huron-Manistee National Forests- Michigan
Lying between the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron in the northern half of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan is the nearly one-million-acre Huron-Manistee National Forests.
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Mark Twain National Forest- Missouri
Encompassing 1.5 million acres of beautiful public land in 29 counties in Missouri, Mark Twain National Forest maintains a healthy, working forest and restores Missouri's natural communities.
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Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie- Illinois
The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is the largest island in the archipelago of protected areas that collectively comprise the Chicago Wilderness. It includes a full array of species and natural processes typical of tallgrass prairies in the region, including the reintroduction of bison.
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Monongahela National Forest- West Virginia
Monongahela National Forest was established in 1920 and encompasses one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the United States.
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Ottawa National Forest- Michigan
Located in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the Ottawa National Forest consists of one million acres extending from the south shore of Lake Superior to the Wisconsin border.
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Shawnee National Forest- Illinois
Nestled in southern Illinois between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, the Shawnee National Forest spans 289,000 acres featuring stunning oak-hickory forests, flourishing wetlands, lush canyons, razorback ridges and unique geological features.
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Superior National Forest- Minnesota
Established in 1909, the three-million-acre Superior National Forest is the largest national forest east of the Mississippi River.
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Wayne National Forest- Ohio
The Wayne National Forest is a patchwork of public land that covers over a quarter million acres of Appalachian foothills of southeastern Ohio.
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White Mountain National Forest- New Hampshire
From mountainous hardwood forests to majestic alpine peaks. Explore the breathtaking scenery, clear mountain lakes and streams, wildlife, and outdoor recreation opportunities year-round.
Features
2024 Total Solar Eclipse
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will arc across parts of Mexico, 13 states in the U.S., and Canada. Much of the predicted eclipse path will cross east of the Mississippi River, which includes the Eastern (R9) and Southern (R8) regions of your National Forests.
Recreation Reimagined
A snapshot of the Fiscal Year 2022-2026 Recreation Strategy for the Eastern Region.
