America’s Best National Forests for Outdoor Camping and Scenic Trails
If you’re dreaming about your next outdoor escape, you might find yourself scrolling through endless photos of tall pines, shimmering lakes, and wide-open mountain valleys.
The United States has no shortage of those postcard-perfect places, but some of the very best sit inside its national forests. These protected lands offer a little bit of everything—big scenery, quiet trails, and campgrounds where you can wake up to birdsong instead of traffic.
And they’re often less crowded than the national parks next door.
So, if you’re mapping out a future camping or hiking trip and want to explore places that feel a bit more raw, a bit more spacious, and a lot more accessible, national forests are hard to beat.
Let’s take a relaxed walk through some of the top U.S. national forests for camping and hiking.
White Mountain National Forest (New Hampshire)
Once you step into New England’s rugged high country, you’ll see why the White Mountains pop up on so many hikers’ bucket lists. The scenery is classic northeastern wildland—dense forests, exposed ridgelines, waterfalls, and peaks that get hammered by weather. If you want a challenge, it’s here. If you want a lazy lakeside campsite, you can find that, too.
The Appalachian Trail threads right through these mountains, bringing a steady flow of backpackers who stop to recover at AMC huts or nearby towns. But wander even a little off the well-known routes and the crowds thin out fast.
Great for hiking:
• Mount Washington and the Presidential Range
• Franconia Ridge Loop
• Arethusa Falls and Crawford Notch trails
Great for camping:
• Lafayette Campground
• Hancock Campground
• Remote backcountry sites along the Pemigewasset Wilderness
The fall foliage is ridiculous. Seriously—go once in October and you’ll understand why people plan entire trips around it.
Superior National Forest (Minnesota)
If "big sky and bigger lakes" is your mood, Superior National Forest is calling your name. This is where you slip into full north-woods mode: calm waters, rocky shorelines, loon calls, and endless groves of birch and pine. Backpacking is solid here, but paddling routes steal the show.
The forest borders the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, one of the most remote and peaceful outdoor destinations in the country. You can mix days of hiking with canoe trips, or stick to land and roam through trails that feel like deep, old-school wilderness.
Great for hiking:
• Kekekabic Trail
• Angleworm Trail
• Trails around Echo Trail and Sawbill Lake
Great for camping:
• Birch Lake Campground
• Fall Lake Campground
• Countless dispersed sites near lakes and forest roads
If your idea of a perfect night involves hearing nothing but wind in the trees and water lapping on the shore, this is the forest for you. Can you picture it?
Pisgah National Forest (North Carolina)
Pisgah is one of the best national forests in the United States for anyone who wants diversity—lush vegetation, waterfalls, balds, challenging peaks, quiet valleys, and all levels of camping. Want a quick stroll to a scenic overlook? Easy. Want a rugged multi-day trek? You’ve got options.
The Blue Ridge Parkway weaves along Pisgah’s high ridges, and that alone makes this area feel cinematic. Misty mornings. Bright green summers. A blaze of oranges and reds in autumn.
Great for hiking:
• Black Balsam Knob and the Art Loeb Trail
• Looking Glass Rock
• Shining Rock Wilderness routes
Great for camping:
• Davidson River Campground
• Lake Powhatan Campground
• Hundreds of dispersed sites along forest roads
If you’re a fan of waterfalls, Pisgah has so many you’ll eventually stop trying to count them. The forest is a classic Southern Appalachian escape.
Coconino National Forest (Arizona)
Switching gears, let’s head to the Southwest—where red rock, ponderosa pine, and high-desert views collide. Coconino National Forest is one of the most visually striking national forests in the U.S. because its landscapes change dramatically depending on where you stand. One moment you’re in Sedona’s red rock canyons. The next, you’re surrounded by tall pines near Flagstaff.
It’s a dream destination for hikers who want variety and for campers who crave star-filled skies.
Great for hiking:
• Cathedral Rock
• West Fork of Oak Creek
• Humphreys Peak (Arizona’s tallest mountain)
Great for camping:
• Pine Flat Campground
• Cave Springs Campground
• Numerous dispersed camping zones around Sedona and Flagstaff
Night skies here are something else. The forest sits near designated Dark Sky communities, so the stargazing is unreal. Imagine ending your hike by watching the Milky Way appear overhead.
Sawtooth National Forest (Idaho)
Idaho doesn’t get the same spotlight as Colorado or Montana, but anyone who’s spent time in the Sawtooths knows they deserve elite status. Jagged peaks, sapphire lakes, glacial basins, and quiet trails make this one of the best national forests for backpacking in the western U.S.
The forest includes the Sawtooth Wilderness, which feels remote and surprisingly wild. You might hike for hours and meet only a handful of people, especially on weekday mornings.
Great for hiking:
• Alice-Toxaway Loop
• Sawtooth Lake
• Redfish Lake to Baron Lakes
Great for camping:
• Redfish Lake Campground
• Stanley Lake Campground
• Backcountry lakeside campsites tucked deep in glacial valleys
If you want a place where the mountains look a little sharper and the air feels a little cleaner, the Sawtooths will impress you fast.
Tongass National Forest (Alaska)
Now we’re going big—really big. Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the United States, and it's located right in the heart of Alaska’s temperate rainforest. Think moss-covered trees, giant ferns, cascading rivers, whale sightings, glacier views, and valleys so green they look like they’ve been digitally enhanced.
This is wilderness at its most dramatic.
Great for hiking:
• West Glacier Trail near Juneau
• Perseverance Trail
• Mendenhall Glacier–surrounding routes
Great for camping:
• Mendenhall Campground
• Admiralty Island cabin sites
• Remote shoreline and forest clearings (for experienced backcountry travelers)
Weather can shift fast here, but that’s part of the experience. The payoff is landscapes you simply won’t find anywhere else in the country.
Bridger-Teton National Forest (Wyoming)
If you’ve ever visited Grand Teton National Park and wished for a little more breathing room, just turn toward Bridger-Teton National Forest. It’s enormous, scenic, and full of trails that deliver views every bit as jaw-dropping as the national park—just without the crowds.
Camping options range from riverfront sites to mountain basins where mule deer wander nearby at dusk.
Great for hiking:
• Gros Ventre Wilderness trails
• Cache Creek area
• Swift Creek and Shoal Falls
Great for camping:
• Atherton Creek Campground
• Crystal Creek Campground
• A huge range of dispersed sites with Tetons views
This is classic Wyoming backcountry. Big skies. Rugged peaks. Serene lakes. If you want open space, this forest delivers it in spades.
Deschutes National Forest (Oregon)
Volcanoes. Lava tubes. Alpine lakes. Towering pines. Welcome to Deschutes National Forest in central Oregon. It’s one of the best places in the Pacific Northwest for easy-access outdoor adventures. The town of Bend sits right at the edge of the forest, so you can grab coffee in the morning and hit a remote trail fifteen minutes later.
It’s the perfect mix of convenience and wild scenery.
Great for hiking:
• Green Lakes Trail
• Sparks Lake Loop
• Lava River Cave and Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Great for camping:
• Elk Lake Campground
• Paulina Lake Campground
• Dispersed camping areas near Cascade Lakes Highway
The forest is also a hub for mountain biking, so if you want to mix up your activities, this is a great place to do it.
San Juan National Forest (Colorado)
Colorado has multiple national forests worth visiting, but San Juan National Forest stands out for its dramatic scenery and wide variety of terrain. You get everything from alpine passes and wildflower meadows to red rock canyons and historic mining towns.
The San Juans feel remote in the best way—like you’ve landed in the set of a western movie.
Great for hiking:
• Ice Lakes Basin
• Engineer Mountain
• Chicago Basin (via the Durango & Silverton train)
Great for camping:
• Molas Lake Campground
• Little Molas Lake dispersed area
• Vallecito Campground
The high alpine scenery here is unforgettable. And if you love fall colors, the aspen groves in September will blow you away.
Inyo National Forest (California)
Let’s wrap our list with something iconic. Inyo National Forest is home to Mount Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48 states, along with countless alpine lakes, granite peaks, and high-desert valleys. It’s stunning. It’s rugged. And it's one of the very best national forests for hiking and camping in California.
The contrast between the Sierra Nevada’s dramatic skyline and the desert below is unlike anywhere else.
Great for hiking:
• Mount Whitney Trail (permit required)
• Big Pine Lakes
• Little Lakes Valley
Great for camping:
• Big Pine Creek Campground
• Whitney Portal Campground
• Plenty of dispersed camping on the Eastern Sierra slopes
If you love high-elevation scenery, Inyo will keep you coming back again and again.
A Few Tips for Camping in National Forests
Before you pack the car and head out, here are some quick reminders to make your trip smoother:
Check fire restrictions.
Conditions change fast, especially in the West.
Learn the difference between developed and dispersed camping.
Developed sites have amenities. Dispersed areas let you camp almost anywhere within the rules.
Store food properly.
From black bears to chipmunks, wildlife can be bold.
Know the weather patterns.
Mountain storms happen quickly. Always bring extra layers.
Leave no trace.
Pack it in, pack it out—every time.
A Final Thought Before You Hit the Trail
National forests are some of the most underrated public lands in the United States. They’re huge, accessible, and full of the kind of quiet corners that make camping and hiking trips truly memorable. Whether you’re wandering through alpine lakes in Idaho, paddling the peaceful waters of Minnesota, or hiking the fiery red-rock canyons of Arizona, each forest offers its own kind of magic.
So where will you head first? That’s the fun part—picking the spot that calls to you.