During our travels, I often include trips that pass through national forests or lodging stays within them. The Japanese have an expression that encompasses the feeling I have when I am in a national forest. They call it shinrin-yoku, which translates to forest bathing. They also have a similar expression, komorebi, which relates to the beautiful, dappled sunlight filtering through trees. In this post, I feature three favorite national forests in the USA. Whenever I hike or look at or hike in these forests, I feel calm and centered.
The featured image was taken in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Covering 1.1 million acres in southeastern New Mexico, the Lincoln National Forest has elevations ranging from 4,000 to 11,500 feet (1,219 to 3,505 meters). The forest is healthy in its diverse ecosystems.
Also located in New Mexico, the Carson National Forest covers 1.5 million acres of Northern New Mexico. That is the area where visitors can see the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the San Juan Mountains. Elevations in the Carson National Forest range from 6,500 to over 13,000 feet (1,981 to over 3,962 meters). The following photo is a winter glimpse of the forest as we went snowshoeing a few years ago. It was an unforgettable experience to feel the crisp air and hear the quiet sounds of that forest.
Finally, we come to the White River National Forest, a relatively recent discovery for me. While staying in Colorado’s Summit County area, we hiked on several trails in the Eagles Nest Wilderness inside that forest. Covering 2.3 million acres, this forest is in the heart of the Colorado Rockies. In addition to iconic destinations, such as Maroon Bells, the forest is home to ten peaks over 14,000 feet (4,267 meters)!
That is the story behind the shots. If you liked this post, you might also be interested in others featuring Carson National Forest, Colorado, Landscapes, Lincoln National Forest, Monochrome, Monochrome Madness, New Mexico, and White River NF. Until the next time, keep clicking and capturing the beauty your eyes find.
For Leanne’s Monochrome Madness #35 – Woods, Rainforests and Bushland.
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Amy
Beautiful forest of nations parks. Stunning images in black and white.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Amy. I was surprised how well a monochrome edit worked with these.
Wandering Dawgs
Egidio, I love the forest images in black and white. Our National Forests are great treasures.
Egidio Leitao
Beth, I totally agree with you. Thanks for writing.
Donna Robinson Photography
These are beautiful. I especially like the snow image. The first one is very “Ansell Adams” to me. Nice work!
Egidio Leitao
Wow, Donna! You made my day with this compliment. Thank you very much.
Leanne Cole
Stunning shots Egidio, I loved what you said at the start too. The Japanese have some great expressions. I found when I was in the US the forests there smell very different to ours.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks a million, Leanne. When we are in those forests, we also noticed the different scent.
Anne Sandler
I love this post, especially in black and white.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Anne. Forests are fascinating.