Every year millions of people visit public lands managed by the Forest Service. They come for the secluded campgrounds surrounded by lush forests and towering mountains. They come to backpack through wilderness areas where no motorized vehicle is permitted. They come to watch wildlife, fish for trout in a cold mountain stream, or raft down a raging river. And they come to escape the noise and furious pace of cities; to experience the peace provided by nature.

National forests are America's great outdoors. Established in 1905 by an Act of Congress, they encompass more than 190 million acres of land, an area equivalent to the size of Texas. Divided into nine geographic regions, the Forest Service consists of 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands. The Forest Service is often confused with the National Park Service but these are two entirely different public land agencies.