White River National Forest

White River National Forest is more akin to outdoor recreation than any other national forest. Aspen and Vail are the two towns located in the vicinity of the forest, which covers approximately two million acres of land.

The majority of the White River is a wilderness area, for a good reason. In 1920, a landscape architect for the Forest Service named Arthur Carhart was told to survey property on Trappers Lake for vacation homes. However, he recommended designating the area wild. That is why today we have the famous Flat Tops Wilderness - the southern section of the forest consists of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass and Holy Cross wilderness areas (they almost became a national park.)

In the future, more wilderness areas may become a part of White River. Recently, a land inventory of the forest found there were numerous roadless areas perfect for wilderness designation. It's impossible to be bored in the White River National Forest. It's certainly the great outdoors at its best.