The Highest National Forest In The United States

California's Inyo National Forest claims the highest point of any national forest in the United States: the 14,495-foot summit of Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the Lower 48. This badge of honor makes Inyo, technically speaking, the highest national forest in the country. However, there are several federally-managed forests that incorporate famous 14ers of the Rocky Mountains, and that boast a significantly higher average elevation.

If we were to look at the question of highest national forest in the U.S. from an experiential basis, then Colorado's Rio Grande National Forest would receive top billing. Let's delve deeper into Inyo, Rio Grande, and some other high-altitude national forests to see if we can't separate the forest from the trees.

Highest Maximum Elevation: Inyo National Forest

Spanning over two-million non-contiguous acres throughout the eastern Sierra Nevada of California, Inyo National Forest is as ecologically vital as it is visually arresting. Its high point, Mount Whitney at 14,495 feet, also happens to be the nation's tallest mountain outside of Alaska.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, Inyo's low-point at 177 feet stands marginally above sea-level. And though the eastern Sierra is nowhere near the sea, this mountain range/forest does rub up against Death Valley — famous not only for its intense heat, but for being the lowest point in the United States.

In between these extremes, averaging 5,217 feet, Inyo National Forest harbors seven Wilderness Areas, with Wilderness being the federal government's highest level of land protection, as well as, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest that is home to the oldest living trees on earth with some more than 4,000 years old.

Hiking in the eastern Sierra can be quite challenging, but for those with the fitness and know-how, the viewpoints are well worth it. Additionally, Inyo's endless trails and service roads act as magnets for mountain bikers and off-roaders, while the hundreds of lakes and thousands of miles of rivers appeal to anglers.

Highest Average Elevation: 4

Covering 1.8 million acres across South-Central Colorado, Rio Grande National Forest delivers a high-altitude experience from every corner. Ranging from the high-desert of San Luis Valley to the apex of the Sangre de Cristo Range, the southernmost sub-range of the Rocky Mountains, and flanked to the west by the Continental Divide, Rio Grande National Forest is relentlessly breathtaking.

At 7,600 feet, its lowest point surpasses the highest peak in most states, and its upper range factors in four 14ers, Blanca Peak being the champion at 14,350 feet, as per the latest LiDAR scans. Though an exact average elevation is not currently available, the figure is roughly double that of Inyo National Forest, roughly 10,000 to 10,500 feet.

Thanks to 1,350 miles of multi-use trails, including parts of the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, and the Old Spanish Trail, Rio Grande National Forest draws acclimatized hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders to her impressive slopes.

However, given that the Rio Grande River flows through this forest, and the marked snowfall across certain sections, this recreative area also welcomes paddlers, anglers, and backcountry skiers, depending on the season, of course.

Additional High-Altitude National Forests

Of Colorado's seven national forests, six of them sport peaks in excess of 14,000 feet. This means that Pike-San Isabel National Forest, Rio Grande National Forest, Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forest, Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest, White River National Forest, and San Juan National Forest all follow California's Inyo National Forest (in that order) as the highest national forests by maximum elevation in the United States.

All of these massive, Rocky Mountain forests deserve attention, but let's hone in on Pike-San Isabel to get a better feel for the area. Not far from Rio Grande National Forest, firmly in Central Colorado, the joint Pike-San Isabel National Forest, managed in conjunction with Comanche National Grassland and Cimarron National Grassland, has multiple claims to fame.

At 14,440 feet, Mount Elbert is not only the highest mountain in Colorado, but the entirety of the Rocky Mountains. After Inyo National Forest's Mount Whitney, Mount Elbert is the second-highest peak in the contiguous United States. Despite those accolades, it is the 14,115-foot namesake of this joint national forest, Pikes Peak, that draws the most attention.

Nicknamed America's Mountain, Pikes Peak can be seen from 100 miles out, and accessed, up-close and personal, in a variety of engaging manners. The 19-mile Pikes Peak Highway goes all the way to the top, starting from Cascade, Colorado, just west of Colorado Springs, as does The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway.

Of course, seasoned hikers can reach the summit via the 13-mile one-way Barr Trail or 13.6-mile Crags Trail.

These National Forests Far Exceed Their Treelines

Even though these Californian and Coloradoan peaks stand high above the treeline, they still exist within the purview of national forests. Factor in desert flat-topped landforms and acclimatized evergreens, national forests like Inyo and Rio Grande encapsulate rather diverse, high-altitude environments.

Inyo National Forest claims the highest singular point of all national forests in the United States, whereas Rio Grande National Forest boasts a much higher range of altitudes — just shy of Inyo's maximum, but thousands of feet higher in terms of its minimum, and average elevations.

Unless you plan to stand at the top of the Sierra, and contiguous America, exploring the Rocky Mountain terrain of the Rio Grande National Forest will feel like a higher altitude experience. The same goes for all but one of Colorado's seven national forests.