About the Area
The Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands cover more than three million acres from the prairies of southwestern Kansas to Colorado's highest mountain peaks along the Continental Divide. These sprawling forests and grasslands are an eight-hour drive from boundary to boundary, offering diverse landscapes rich in history, geology, scenery, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities.
Cimarron National Grasslands
District Ranger: Nancy Brewer
The Cimarron National Grassland manages about 108,175 acres in Morton and Stevens counties in southwestern Kansas. It is the state's largest area of public land and the only parcel managed by the Forest Service. The elevation ranges from 3,150 to 3,540 feet.
Comanche National Grasslands
District Ranger: Kurt Staton
The district manages more than 440,000 acres in southeastern Colorado including the nation's largest Dinosaur Track site. The Comanche National Grassland is a place of unequaled sunsets, golden prairies, fragrant juniper canyonlands, and extraordinary wildlife viewing.
Leadville Ranger District
District Ranger Pat Mercer
The Ski Cooper Ski Area at Tennessee Pass is in the northern part of the district, Fremont Pass is in the northeastern part, Headwaters of the Arkansas River can be accessed from the east and Independence Pass can be accessed from the west.
Pikes Peak Ranger District
District Ranger Carl Bauer
The Pikes Peak District is home to "the purple mountain majesty," known as Pikes Peak. It is known as "America's Mountain" thanks to the song "America the Beautiful," which was written on its summit. The District office is in Colorado Springs, Colorado’s second largest city, with a population of approximately 500,000.
Salida Ranger District
District Ranger Perry Edwards
The district encompasses more than 440,000 acres of public lands in central Colorado near the towns of Salida, Buena Vista and Poncha Springs. The district includes seven 14,000-foot peaks "fourteeners" (Harvard, Tabeguache, Yale, Columbia, Shavano, Princeton, Antero), as well as three wilderness areas (Buffalo Peaks, Collegiate Peaks, Sangre De Cristo), and Browns Canyon National Monument.
San Carlos Ranger District
District Ranger Destiny Chapman
San Carlos Ranger District is 50 miles wide and 110 miles long from central Colorado to the Southern boarder. The district manages about 400,000 acres of National Forest in Fremont, Custer, Huerfano, Pueblo, Las Animas and Costilla counties.