Sawtooth National Forest, National forest in southern Idaho and northern Utah, United States
Sawtooth National Forest covers 2,110,408 acres across southern Idaho and northern Utah, with jagged pale grey and tan peaks of the Sawtooth Mountains rising above dark coniferous forest and a dry valley floor of sagebrush and yellow wildflowers. It holds over 1,100 lakes and 3,500 miles of rivers and streams, plus more than 1,000 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and all-terrain vehicle use.
President Theodore Roosevelt created this protected forest in 1905 as an early step in conservation efforts for the American West. This action helped establish the model for protecting wild lands across the nation.
Shoshone people lived in this forest region for thousands of years, depending on its plants and animals for food and moving with the seasons. Visitors today can find evidence of these long connections throughout the land.
The forest has 81 campgrounds and offers year-round activities like hiking, boating, and skiing in winter areas. Plan your visit around the season, as weather and trail conditions change significantly throughout the year.
The forest also holds the South Hills crossbill, a bird found nowhere else, and the Wood River sculpin, a fish limited to the Wood River basin. Both are named alongside Christ's Indian paintbrush and Davis' springparsley as species restricted to the forest and adjacent lands.
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