Forests are important. Why? For a start, according to un.org, forests purify water, clean the air, and capture carbon to fight climate change. So important that in 2012, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 21 as the International Day of Forests to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests. The U.S. has over 150 designated national forests. The largest is Tongass National Forest in Alaska at nearly 17 million acres while the smallest is Tuskegee National Forest in Alabama at a little over 11,000 acres. Big and small and in between, all are important. Let’s check out few out near our camping locations:
If you’re planning a camping trip to California’s Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes (Groveland), you’re a little over an hour from Stanislaus National Forest which has 78 lakes, over 800 streams and rivers and roughly 1000 miles of hiking trails. That’s a lot of ground (and water) to cover in this 898,000 acre national forest. Try the challenging, but popular, Cleo’s Bath Trail (6.8 mile loop) for a good hike or kayak or white water raft the Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River (fyi, Wild and Scenic is an actual national designation and Stanislaus has two!). The forest’s Mosquito Lake provides a scenic backdrop worth the photo op.
Sam Houston National Forest in Texas has over 85 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, plus 300 miles of hiking trails (the long distance, 92-mile, Lone Star Trail Hiking Trail can be found here). Book a stay at Thousand Trails Lake Conroe and get to know this forest that shows evidence of being inhabited by humans dating back 12,000 years! Look for the bald eagles that hover over Lake Conroe, which along with Lake Livingston, is great for fishing; marvel at the towering loblolly pines, or visit the winery that’s adjacent (West Sandy Creek Winery) to this magnificent forest.
Travel to “the islands” when you visit Arizona’s Coronado National Forest. First, book a stay at Voyager in Tucson and then head to the islands (actually, they are mountains that were named by the Huachucas as “sky islands“ because “they stand like islands surrounded by the sea (the desert).” This magnificent forest contains 15 mountain ranges spread over 1.7 million acres. Coronado National Forest is great for a whole bunch of outdoor fun from hiking and fishing to beautiful scenic drives. The Madera Canyon Nature Trail is a short 2.5-mile loop while the Catalina Scenic Highway is a great, paved scenic drive switching from desert to forested scenery as it takes you to the top of the Santa Catalina mountain range.
Did you know that almost 50% of Florida is considered forestland? It’s true – 49.3% to be exact. And yet, the sun shines brightly here. Plan a camping trip to Encore Terra Ceia in Palmetto and get to know the Myakka State Forest, which is about 45 miles from the campground. And, if you want, keep driving as you can do a scenic drive through the forest with its oak and palm hammock trees and marshes, catching glimpses of alligators and sea birds along the route. Other activities here can include hiking, off-road biking, and horseback riding on the roughly 40 miles of trails.
Read More:
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- If you’re in the mood for basketball this month, here are 3 college towns big on basketball and worth a visit!
- March is diverse in that it can offer both sun and snow. For the snow lovers, we put together a list of places you can still find snow this month!
- These dip recipes are perfect for any day of the week, and taste best when served next to a campfire!
- Explore the Thousand Trails Camping Pass and the Thousand Trails Cabin Pass.
- Find more campgrounds at ThousandTrails.com.