Colville National Forest

Welcome to the Colville National Forest!

Photo: Northwest of Renner Lake on the 705 road

The Colville National Forest disproves the widely held notion that Washington state lies flat east of the Cascade Mountains. Today's 1.1 million acre forest was first shaped over 10,000 years ago by Ice Age glaciers that carved three major valleys of today's Columbia, San Poil-Curlew, and Pend Oreille River flowing north into Canada before entering the Columbia River. These million acres in the northeast corner roll like the high seas. Three waves of mountains run from north to south, separated by troughs of valleys. These ranges -- the Okanogan, Kettle River, and Selkirk -- are considered foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

New!

• FIVE DOLLAR CHRISTMAS TREES NOV 1
• BEAD LAKE BOAT LAUNCH CLOSES October 31, 2009 WEATHER PERMITTING
• FIRE RESTRICTIONS RESCINDED 08/13/2009 - .doc file (305 KB) or - .pdf file (35 KB)
• FOREST CONCESSIONAIRE CAMPGROUND CLOSURES - .doc file (24 KB) or - .pdf file (8 KB)
• Need Local FIRE INFORMATION?
• New Routes Added to list for Disabled Hunter Access for 2009 Season!
• Visit NEWSROOM for Colville National Forest news releases!

Growden Dam Project

Growden Dam was built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps as a recreational pond, never to be used as an energy resource.  By 1957 the pond was clogged with sediment, burying the clean-out structure, and turning the pond into a wetland. As a result, the dam no longer meets Washington Department of Ecology Dam Safety Section Standards...

South End Motorized Recreation Management Project

The South End Project would manage motorized recreation in the south-central portion of the Colville National Forest (in the Chewelah, Tacoma, and Calispell Creek drainage's).  The project is expected to expand the system of designated routes open to various types of motor vehicles, provide improved management of roadside (i.e., dispersed) camping, and rehabilitate resource impacts from motor vehicle use.

2009 Motor Vehicle Use Maps Now Available

Motor Vehicle Use Maps showing what Colville National Forest routes have been designated for legal access by specific types motor vehicles and in what seasons the designated routes are open for travel. See our Travel Management page by clicking on "more.".

Monitoring Report - Burnt Valley and Baranaby / Bangs Mountain Stewardship Projects

The Northeast Washington Forestry Coalition performed monitoring in 2008 on two Colville National Forest fuel reduction projects. The monitoring report is available from the Coalition's website.

Secure Rural Schools Act, RACs, and Title II Funding

• Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Act preauthorized and amended!
• Click here to learn about the Resource Advisory Committees (RAC)
• Click here to learn about Title II projects and funding
• Click here to submit a project application for potential Title II funding

Potential Wilderness Recommendations

For information on the analysis and collaboration on Colville National Forest's Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) with potential to be recommended for Wilderness designation click on the link below and scroll towards the bottom of the page.

Colville, Okanogan & Wenatchee National Forests Plan Revision

The Colville and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests are revising their Forest Plans which are near the end of their life cycle. The new plans will reflect resource and social changes on all three Forests, as well as new scientific information.

Disabled Hunter Access Program (DHAP)

The Disabled Hunter Access Program (DHAP) is a cooperative effort between the US Forest Service, WDFW, and the Northeastern Washington Forestry Coalition.

Proof of Concept

Colville has been chosen as one of three forests in the nation to work under the new “Proof of Concept” business model that promotes a land stewardship industry for the Forest Service. This initiative will focus on how the Forest Service can restructure its existing business processes to meet new management objectives in partnership with communities, local governments, non-government organizations, and contractors.

National Forest Foundation - "as a nonprofit partner of the forest service, this group engages America.."

The National Forest Foundation brings people together to protect our National Forests and Grasslands. As the nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service, engaging America in community-based and national programs that promote the health and public enjoyment of the National Forest System the U.S. Forest Service fulfill its mission to "care for the land and serve people," the foundation works in close collaboration with local people and communities.