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<br />00252~
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<br />The Forest has seven ranger districts: Aspen, Blanco, Dillon, Eagle, Holy Cross, Rifle
<br />and Sopris. Each of these districts has a district office located, respectively, in the towns
<br />of Aspen, Meeker, Silverthorne, Eagle, Minturn, Rifle and Carbondale.
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<br />The Forest has ranked fifth in the Nation in recreation use. Best known for the world-
<br />famous ski areas of Aspen and Vail, the Forest also features the beauty and solitude
<br />found in some 750,000 acres of Wilderness; outstanding scenic vistas such as Trappers
<br />Lake, Hanging Lake and the Maroon Bells: and the nation's largest herd of elk. Another
<br />key Forest attraction is the Colorado River, a boon to rafters. kayakers and anglers.
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<br />Physical Environment
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<br />Few pi aces in the United States feature as much topographic relief as the land within the
<br />White River National Forest Its majestic mountain ranges attract visitors from all over
<br />the world for sightseeing, skiing and backcountry recreation. The Forest rises from an
<br />elevation of about 5,800 feet in Glenwood Canyon to the summits of eight peaks higher
<br />than 14,000 feet This wide range in elevation provides the Forest with climate, soils, and
<br />plant and animal communities that are more diverse than those found in many other
<br />parts of the country. Measured annual precipitation ranges from less than 12 inches on
<br />the Forest's western margin to more than 40 inches at higher elevations.
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<br />Mountain ranges include the Gore Range in the northeastern portion of the Forest, the
<br />Elk Mountains along its southern margin, and the towering Sawatch Range in the
<br />southeast The northwestern portion of the Forest includes the Flat Tops -a series of
<br />high-elevation plateaus. The headwaters of the Eagle, Roaring Fork, Fryingpan, Crystal,
<br />Blue and White Rivers originate entirely on the Forest
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<br />The Forest provides habitat for about 300 wildlife and fish species, including common
<br />species such as elk, mule deer, rainbow trout, and less-common species such as the
<br />peregrine falcon and the Colorado River cutthroat trout
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<br />Social Environment
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<br />Communities adjacent to or surrounded by the White River National Forest include
<br />Aspen, Avon, Basalt, Breckenridge, Carbondale, Dillon, Eagle, Edwards, Frisco,
<br />Glenwood Springs, Gypsum, Meeker, Minturn, New Castle, Rifle, Silt, Silverthorne,
<br />Snowmass Village and Vail. In recent years, parts of the Forest's five-county planning
<br />area have seen some of the highest growth rates in Colorado. Most of this growth has
<br />occurred near the Forest's ski areas. In the 1990s, these ski areas evolved into four-
<br />season resorts that attract visitors throughout the year. This change has boosted
<br />employment in the tourism and commercial sectors of local economies, and has led to
<br />population growth throughout the area.
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<br />Urbanization has posed some new problems for Forest managers. Development of
<br />private iands and the increased number of visitors to the Forest have combined to:
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<br />. reduce traditional points of access
<br />. reduce or restrict wildlife habitat, migration corridors and winter range
<br />. increase the risk to human safety (from wildfire)
<br />. increase the impacts that visitors have on trails, recreation sites and other Forest
<br />resources.
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