Roosevelt National Forest

Roosevelt National Forest is one of the few places left in the country where you can find solace. Although it's very close to Fort Collins, Boulder, and Denver, it offers activities that appeal to a wide range of people.

In the beginning Roosevelt National Forest was part of the Medicine Bow Forest Reserve, which was established in 1897. In 1910 it was renamed the Colorado National Forest. In 1932, it was given another name yet again to honor President Theodore Roosevelt - mainly because he was the person responsible for its foundation.

The ridge system in this forest is characterized by 13,000 and 14,000 foot peaks. Climbers flock here every year to climb the sheer rock walls and crenellated crags. If you're a hiker you can explore the thick forests of lodgepole, aspen, spruce, and fir as they rise from glaciers and tundra into the sky.

Winds of up to 160 mph have been known to blow across Niwot Ridge (these are some of the strongest in the country). Regardless of the weather, it's possible to find quiet in the cirque basins that surround the beautiful glacial lakes.