Dixie National Forest

Dixie National Forest
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
Red Canyon at Scenic Byway 12
Location	Garfield, Iron, Kane, Piute, Washington, and Wayne counties, Utah, U.S.
Nearest city	Cedar City, UT
Coordinates	38°02′N 111°38′W / 38.033°N 111.633°W / 38.033; -111.633Coordinates: 38°02′N 111°38′W / 38.033°N 111.633°W / 38.033; -111.633
Area	1,889,106 acres (7,644.94 km2)
Established	September 25, 1905
Visitors	700,000 (in 2006)
Governing body	U.S. Forest Service
Website	Dixie National Forest

Dixie National Forest is a United States National Forest in Utah with headquarters in Cedar City. It occupies almost two million acres (8,000 km²) and stretches for about 170 miles (270 km) across southern Utah. The largest national forest in Utah, it straddles the divide between the Great Basin and the Colorado River. In descending order of forestland area it is located in parts of Garfield, Washington, Iron, Kane, Wayne, and Piute counties. The majority (over 55%) of forest acreage lies in Garfield County. There are local ranger district offices in Cedar City, Escalante, Panguitch, St. George, and Teasdale.

Elevations vary from 2,800 feet (850 m) above sea level near St. George, Utah to 11,322 feet (3,451 m) at Blue Bell Knoll on Boulder Mountain. The southern rim of the Great Basin, near the Colorado River, provides spectacular scenery. Colorado River canyons are made up of multi-colored cliffs and steep-walled gorges.

The Forest is divided into four geographic areas. High altitude forests in gently rolling hills characterize the Markagunt, Paunsaugunt, and Aquarius Plateaus. Boulder Mountain, one of the largest high-elevation plateaus in the United States, is dotted with hundreds of small lakes 10,000 to 11,000 feet (3,000 to 3,400 m) above sea level. The forest includes the Pine Valley Mountains north of St. George