| Manti–La Sal National Forest | |
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IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
La Sal Mountains as seen from Arches National Park
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| Location | Mesa and Montrose counties, Colorado and Carbon, Emery, Grand, San Juan, Sanpete, and Sevier counties, Utah, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Moab, UT |
| Coordinates | 39°17′N 111°25.5′W / 39.283°N 111.4250°W / 39.283; -111.4250[1] |
| Area | 1,270,886 acres (5,143.09 km2)[2] |
| Established | Manti–La Sal: August 28, 1950; Manti: May 29, 1903; La Sal: January 25, 1906[3] |
| Visitors | 900,000 (in 2006)[4] |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
| Website | Manti–La Sal National Forest |
The Manti–La Sal National Forest covers more than 1.2 million acres (4,900 km2)[2] and is located in the central and southeastern parts of the U.S. stateofUtah and the extreme western part of Colorado. The forest is headquartered in Price, with ranger district offices in Price, Ferron, Ephraim, Moab and Monticello.[5] The maximum elevation is Mount Peale in the La Sal Mountains, reaching 12,721 feet (3,877 m) above sea level. The La Sal Mountains are the second highest mountain range in Utah after the Uintas. Parts of the forest are included in the Bears Ears National Monument.
The La Sal Mountain loop road leads from Castle ValleytoGeyser Pass and back down to Moab. Scenic Oowah Lake can be found within the forest.
In descending order of land area, the forest is located in parts of San Juan, Sanpete, Emery, Utah, Grand, Carbon, and Sevier counties in Utah, as well as Montrose, and Mesa counties in Colorado (Only about 2.1% of the forest lies in Colorado). Forest headquarters is located in Price, Utah. District offices are located in Ephraim, Ferron, Moab, Monticello, and Price.[6]
The forest was originally established as the Manti Forest Reserve by the United States General Land Office on May 29, 1903, with 584,640 acres (2,366.0 km2). On July 1, 1915 Nebo National Forest was added, and La Sal National Forest on November 11, 1949. On August 28, 1950, the name became Manti–La Sal National Forest.[7]
On December 28, 2016, President Barack Obama proclaimed the 1.35 million acre Bears Ears National Monument, which includes most of the Monticello Ranger District on the forest and the Dark Canyon Wilderness.
Manti–La Sal National Forest is very popular for recreation. The northern district on the Wasatch Plateau is well known for the Skyline Drive, an unpaved road tracing along the backbone of the plateau. There is also an extensive ATV trail system in the forest there. The Moab District in the La Sal Mountains contains a number of hiking trails, as well as views over the desert regions of Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park. The Monticello District is home the Manti–La Sal National Forest's only wilderness area, the Dark Canyon Wilderness, a vast, remote canyon area.[8] The Manti–La Sal National Forest, a 1.4 million acre mountain range, occupies parts of central and southeastern Utah, as well as parts of Colorado. The La Sal Mountains are lush with lakes, pine, aspen and evergreen trees, wildlife, and recreation. An easy drive from Moab, the La Sal Mountains not only provide a stunning visual contrast to the red rock town, but also a climactic, and recreational contrast as well.[9]
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National Forests of the United States
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