Visitors 900,000 (in 2006) Area 5,143 km² Nearest city Moab | Governing body U.S. Forest Service Country United States of America Established May 29, 1903 | |
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Location Mesa and Montrose counties, Colorado and Carbon, Emery, Grand, San Juan, Sanpete, and Sevier counties, Utah, U.S. Website Manti-La Sal National Forest Management United States Forest Service | ||
The Manti-La Sal National Forest covers more than 1.2 million acres (4,900 km2) and is located in the central and southeastern parts of the U.S. state of Utah and the extreme western part of Colorado. The forest is headquartered in Price, with ranger district offices in Price, Ferron, Ephraim, Moab and Monticello. The maximum elevation is Mount Peale in the La Sal Mountains, reaching 12,721 feet (3,877 m) above sea level. The La Sal's are the second highest mountain range in Utah after the Uintas. Parts of the forest are included in the Bears Ears National Monument.
Contents
- Map of Manti La Sal National Forest Utah USA
- Bull canyon dinosaur track trail and overlook on the manti la sal national forest in utah
- Location and history
- Recreation
- References
Map of Manti-La Sal National Forest, Utah, USA
Bull canyon dinosaur track trail and overlook on the manti la sal national forest in utah
Location and history
The La Sal Mountain loop road leads from Castle Valley to Geyser 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.
The forest was originally established as the Manti Forest Reserve by the 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.
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.
Recreation
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 excellent hiking, as well as spectacular 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.