The U.S. National Parks have some of the nation’s most beautiful natural monuments, but they also come with crowds and restrictions. Opportunities for backcountry camping are limited and most parks do not allow hiking on trails with dogs.
National Forests on the other hand offer an abundance of freedoms where you can camp just about anywhere for next to nothing and you are free to take Fido wherever you like.
For these reasons, we compiled a list of the best National Forests to explore that are adjacent to renowned National Parks. These protected forests combine equally impressive landscapes with the kind of freedom you deserve in a camping trip.
7 National Forests Near National Parks
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Olympic National Forest
The Olympic National Park goes from rainforests to glacier-capped mountaintops in a spectacular ascent to a lookout named Hurricane Ridge. You can camp within the park at any number of campgrounds or enjoy the freedoms that come with camping in the Olympic National Forest, which borders the park on nearly all sides. Camp on the banks of the Dungeness River for a peaceful commune with nature. Or explore the rainforests around the Hoh River from any number of forest service campgrounds just outside park.
Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons
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Stanislaus National Forest
At Yosemite National Park, visitors are presented with the unparalleled grandeur of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley. But camping within the park often coms with extreme crowds and reservations months in advance. Not so for the nearby Stanislaus National Forest where the beautiful rainbow pools on the South Fork Tuolumne River are not to miss. Another great option is the 14-mile hike to Long Lake featuring huge granite boulders, wild flowers and a challenging ascent. Check road conditions, though, as recent wildfires have damaged some of this area.
Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons
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Shoshone National Forest
Around Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are six national forests that share the same fauna and flora but without the crowds and expense. By all means visit the parks, but when you want to relax away from people or hike with your dog, venturing out to any number of the national forests will offer those opportunities. Find a secluded lakeside campsite in the Shoshone National Forest, or Teton National Forest with majestic views of the Grand Teton Mountains, Custer National Forest to the north and to the west Targhee National Forest.
Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons
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Flathead National Forest
Glacier National Park in northern Montana is known as the “crown of the continent” for a reason. With grandiose peaks and an abundance of wildlife, this is the place for alpine adventures and grizzly bear sightings. For a different look at the wilderness and likely easier access to the woods, check out the bordering Flathead National Forest with 2,600 miles of hiking trails. Stretching across the west side of the Continental Divide, nearly half of the forest is designated wildlife habitat for wolves, peregrine falcons, bald eagles and grizzly bears. There are 31 designated campgrounds in the national forest, but venturing off to find your own backcountry campsite offers unrivaled freedom and adventure.
Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons
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Kaibab National Forest
Bordering the north and south rims of the Grand Canyon is the Kaibab National Forest where the views are just as amazing only without the fees and crowds of the national park. This forest offers a world of exploration with canyons, prairies, peaks and plateaus. The Kaibab Plateau is bordered on the south by the Grand Canyon with equally impressive views. The northern section features a stretch of the Arizona trail, which traverses the state from north to south for a total of 750 miles.
Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons
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Fishlake National Forest
Near Bryce Canyon National Park lies Fishlake National Forest named after what many consider the gem of Utah, its largest mountain lake known as Fishlake. Don’t miss the 75-foot Bullion Falls that’s best in late spring to early summer. Here you can seek out that trophy fish or simply take in the surroundings of aspen forest and mountain meadows.
Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons
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Blackhills National Forest
West of Badlands National Park in South Dakota, home to Mount Rushmore, is the equally stunning Black Hills National Forest. Here you can take in the peaceful surroundings that make this area famous. A great option is the Summit Ridge Cabin at an elevation of 6,000 feet. Built as a fire lookout cabin by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, this cabin is available for reservations. But book early as it fills up fast.
Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons
