Pike National Forest | |
---|---|
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
|
|
Near Devil's Head Lookout
|
|
Location | Clear Creek, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Park, and Teller counties, Colorado, United States |
Nearest city | Colorado Springs, CO |
Coordinates | 39°11′N 105°19′W / 39.183°N 105.317°WCoordinates: 39°11′N 105°19′W / 39.183°N 105.317°W |
Area | 1,106,604 acres (4,478.27 km2) |
Established | February 1892 |
Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
Website | Pike and San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands |
The Pike National Forest is located in the Front Range of Colorado, United States, west of Colorado Springs and including Pikes Peak. The forest encompasses 1,106,604 acres (4,478 km²) within Clear Creek, Teller, Park, Jefferson, Douglas and El Paso counties. The major rivers draining the forest are the South Platte and Fountain Creek. Rampart Reservoir, a large artificial body of water, is located within the forest.
The forest is named after American explorer Zebulon Pike.
Much of the bedrock within Pike National Forest is made up of the coarse, pink to orange Pikes Peak granite.
Pike National Forest is managed in association with San Isabel National Forest and Comanche National Grassland in Colorado, as well as Cimarron National Grassland in Kansas and is headquartered in Pueblo, Colorado. There are local ranger district offices located in Colorado Springs, Fairplay and Morrison.