White River National Forest is the top recreation Forest in the nation. Home to world-renowned ski resorts and the birthplace of Wilderness, the White River has something to offer every outdoor enthusiast.
At approximately 2.3 million acres, the White River is one of the biggest sections of the National Forest System. With 10 peaks over 14,000 feet, and eight Wilderness areas encompassing more than 750,000 acres, the Forest is also world-reknowned for its scenery.
Our mission of caring for the land and serving people means that we take pride in being the lead in the conservation and wise use of our Nation’s forests. As the most popular forest for recreation and as one of the first National Forests carved by Congress from the original forest reserves, the White River National Forest enjoys a proud heritage in the US Forest Service.
History
In October 1891, the White River Plateau Timberland Reserve, precursor of the White River National Forest, was set aside by executive order of President Benjamin Harrison.
The first in Colorado and second in the nation, the reserve covered more than 1.1 million acres. Seven years later, Charles Ramer was appointed the first supervisor. Three rangers were hired and administration began.
The White River played host to President Theodore Roosevelt in 1901 while the chief executive hunted mountain lions. Roosevelt went on to reduce the size of the reserve by 61,000 acres in 1902 and 159,000 acres in 1904. 1906 saw the appointment of James Blair as supervisor, a stint that lasted more than 21 years.
Following an Act of Congress in 1905, the name “forest reserves” was changed to “national forests” to indicate that the resources of these areas are not locked up for a distant future.
The White River received its first special designation in 1932, when Chief Forester R.Y. Stuart created the Flat Tops Primitive Area. In 1936, the Forest took its first step to national recognition as a skier’s paradise with the proposal for the Hayden Peak ski area.
1946 saw the start of the development of Aspen Mountain with two chair lifts. Skiing on the Forest really took off in the 1960s, as Vail, Snowmass and other areas opened their doors and thousands of skiers opened their wallets, creating some of the most lucrative and growth-intensive recreation areas in the country.
The early 1970s brought more growth to the White River, as the Blue River Corridor and Green Mountain Reservoir were added to the National Forest System. In 1973, the Dillon Ranger District of the Arapaho National Forest was transferred to the White River for administrative purposes.
In 1984, the Forest completed its first Land and Resource Management Plan, which would guide Forest management for the next 18 years.
