Ashley National Forest is a national forest located in northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming. Within the Forest’s bounds are 1,384,132 acres (5,601 km2) (with 1,287,909 acres (5,212 km2) in Utah and 96,223 acres (389 km2) in Wyoming) of vast forests, lakes, and mountains, with elevations ranging from 6,000 to 13,500 feet (1,800 to 4,100 m). The Forest covers portions of Utah; Duchesne; Uintah; Daggett; and Summit counties in Utah and Sweetwater County in Wyoming. Some of the most popular landmarks located in the Forest include the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area and the Uinta Mountains, which contains the highest mountain peak in Utah (Kings Peak). The Forest also includes 180,530 acres (730.6 km2) of the High Uintas Wilderness area. The headquarters for the Ashley National Forest are located in Vernal, Utah with ranger district offices in Vernal; Duchesne, Utah; Roosevelt, Utah; Manila, Utah; and Green River, Wyoming.[1]
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Petroglyphs (rock art) found throughout the Forest suggest that the land had been hunted for centuries by Indians before being discovered.[2] The first white men believed to have set foot in Ashley National Forest were the Spanish explorers Dominques and Escalante, in 1776. The Forest, however, was not thoroughly explored until the early 19th century when General W. H. Ashley, an organizer of a fur company, began looking for an outlet to the Gulf of Mexico for his business. General Ashley and his team began making their way up the Green River (one of the many bodies of water located in the Forest) in the spring of 1825. After passing through the Flaming Gorge, General Ashley was convinced by the local Indians to turn around and head back up the Uinta Mountains. During his exploration, General Ashley wrote and hung his name out over one of the rivers that he had explored, which now lies below the water of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir; this is how Ashley National Forest received its name. Many other explorers would come and explore the Forest, and eventually the first settlement in Ashley National Forest was made in 1872. It was settled by Captain Pardon Dodds, who brought about 2,000 cattle into the Uinta Basin. In a few years, all of the surrounding ranges were completely stocked with cattle and horses.[1]
On July 1, 1908, by executive order of President Theodore Roosevelt, Ashley National Forest was created. The general boundaries of the Forest remained unchanged until 1953. The entire north slope of the Uinta Mountains was transferred to the Wasatch National Forest, while Ashley National Forest received the Rock Creek and Duchesne River drainages. President Lyndon B. Johnson added approximately 120,000 acres (486 km2) to the Forest when he established the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area as part of Ashley National Forest in 1968.[1] Since then, there have only been slight boundary changes to the Forest.
With over 2.5 million visitors each year, Ashley National Forest offers many different recreational activities to its guests. The Forest contains four main byways to drive on, which take visitors through many different landmarks found in the Forest and offers them a chance to see various forms of wildlife. For people who prefer to walk, the Forest contains over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) miles of hiking trails. These trails cover the entire Forest, taking hikers from extensive forests to rugged mountains. Many of these trails are designated for off-road vehicles as well, such as motorcycles, ATVs, and snowmobiles. Along the trails there are many campgrounds available to visitors. During the winter months, there are two facilities located in the Forest called “Yurts” that provide cross-country skiers with overnight room rentals to escape the cold. There are also many lakes and rivers found throughout Ashley National Forest, which allows guests to take in some fishing while visiting. There are also some bodies of water in the Forest that are designated for motorized water-crafts.[1]
Occupying a large piece of Ashley National Forest are the Uinta Mountains. With a main crest stretching more than 60 miles (97 km) and surrounded by massive secondary ridges extending north and south, this mountain range is the largest alpine area located in the Intermountain west. This mountain range also contains Kings Peak, the highest peak in Utah at 13,528 feet (4.123 km). Hundreds of lakes, streams, and meadows can be found within the many basins located in the mountain range. The Uinta Mountains are also the home to many different types of wildlife including, elk, moose, mule deer, coyotes, sheep, bear, cougars, and otters. The mountains also contain 16 designated trails (545 miles [877 km]) for visitors to explore from June to September.[1]
One of the most popular landmarks located in Ashley National Forest is the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is a large reservoir found within a canyon on the Green River. The reservoir contains 207,363 acres (839 km2) of both land and water, which is divided almost evenly among Utah and Wyoming.[2] The canyon was named by explorer John Wesley Powell, who upon first looking at the red gorge believed that it was on fire.[3] In 1958 the Flaming Gorge Dam was created, which today is what keeps the water contained in the reservoir. The Flaming Gorge reservoir is extremely popular for boaters for it contains five full-service marinas, which offer launching, storage, and maintenance facilities. Because the water in the reservoir always remains cool, even in the extreme heat, it is a favorite spot for water sport enthusiasts. The reservoir is also known for attracting a large number of trout, which makes it a keen area for fishermen. The Green River, which is part of the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is also very popular for fishing. The river is additionally well liked for rafting. The Flaming Gorge National Recreational Area in addition contains many campground and hiking trails found along the 360 miles (580 km) of shoreline, including some secluded grounds only accessible by boat.[2]
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