Arapaho / Roosevelt National Forest

The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests surround Rocky Mountain National Park and the towns of Estes Park, Nederland, Idaho Springs, Winter Park, and Granby, offering a quick getaway for many of the area's residents.

As the western front to the highly populated communities surrounding Denver, these forests attract a high number of visitors every year seeking outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding, white water rafting and kayaking, fishing, hunting, skiing and snowboarding.

The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests were originally part of the Medicine Bow Forest, established in 1897. The forests were then made part of the Colorado National Forest in 1910 and named after President Roosevelt in 1932 in recognition of founding the National Forest system. Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests today encompass 1.3 million acres of foothills, canyons, and jagged peaks. The forests also surround Wilderness Areas of Indian Peaks, Rawah, Cache la Poudre, and Comanche Peak.

A great way to see it all by car is to travel along scenic byways like Peak to Peak, which connects Blackhawk to Estes Park, and Cache la Poudre, following the river to North Park. This river is a Wild and Scenic River and a beautiful place to spend many hours.

From Denver you can visit the forest via I-70 and I-25. There is so much to explore in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, and although many urbanites have figured this out, there are still many untouched areas that lure those seeking adventure and solitude.

Make sure to explore the trail system along the ridges, passing 14ers and rock walls and glaciers. Fishermen and white water enthusiasts seek out the wild waters of the Cache la Poudre raging through the Narrows. Winters are cold and snowy, luring many skiers and snowboarders to Eldora Mountain ski area, located within the forest. Winter months are also a great time to enjoy cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling within the national forest.

Prepare for all kinds of weather when visiting these forests of Colorado. Winter snow remains in higher elevations, blocking trails, until July. Summer days are typically warm but expect vicious thunderstorms in the afternoons during the months of July and August.