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{{Short description|National Forest in the United States}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Arapaho National Forest
| photo = Arapaho National Forest 2010 USDAgov.jpg
| photo_caption =
| map = USA
| relief = 1 | map_caption =
| location = [[Colorado]],
| nearest_city = [[
| coordinates = {{coords|39.588611|-105.642778|region:US|format=dms|display=inline, title}}
| area_acre = 723,744
| established = July 1, 1908
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = [[United States Forest Service|U.S. Forest Service]]
| website = [http://www.fs.usda.gov/arp Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland]
}}
[[Image:Arapaho National Forest location in Colorado.png|thumb|right|Map of Colorado. The area of the Arapaho National Forest area in red.]]
'''Arapaho National Forest''' is a [[United States National Forest|National Forest]] located in north-central [[Colorado]],
The forest is located in the [[Rocky Mountains]], straddling the [[continental divide]] in the [[Front Range]] west of [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]]. It was established on July 1, 1908, by President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] and named for the [[Arapaho]] tribe of [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] which previously inhabited the [[Colorado Eastern Plains]]. The forest includes part of the high Rockies and river valleys in the upper watershed of the [[Colorado River (US)|Colorado River]] and [[South Platte River]]. The forest is largely in [[Grand County, Colorado|Grand]] and [[Clear Creek County, Colorado|Clear Creek]] counties, but spills over into neighboring (in descending order of land area) [[Gilpin County, Colorado|Gilpin]], [[Park County, Colorado|Park]], [[Routt County, Colorado|Routt]], [[Jackson County, Colorado|Jackson]], and [[Jefferson County, Colorado|Jefferson]] counties. There are local [[National Park Ranger|ranger]] district offices located in [[Granby, Colorado|Granby]] and [[Idaho Springs, Colorado|Idaho Springs]].
==Wildlife==
The ponds also produce many insects and other [[invertebrate]]s needed by most female waterfowl for successful [[egg (biology)|egg]] laying. These insects also serve as an essential food item for the growth of [[duck]]lings and [[goose|goslings]] during the summer months.
The first waterfowl arrive in the spring when the ice vanishes in April. The peak [[Bird migration|migration]] occurs in late May when 5,000 or more ducks may be present. [[Canada goose|Canada geese]] have been reestablished in North Park and begin nesting during April. Duck nesting usually starts in early June and peaks in late June. The forest produces about 9,000 ducklings and 150 to 200 goslings each year. The Fish and Wildlife Service expects that when refuge lands are fully acquired and developed, waterfowl production should increase significantly.
There have been 198 bird species recorded in the forest.<ref>{{cite web|title=Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge |publisher=USGS |url=http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/chekbird/r6/arapaho.htm |access-date=August 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013223708/http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/chekbird/r6/arapaho.htm |archive-date=October 13, 2012 }}</ref> Primary upland nesting species include the [[mallard]], [[Northern pintail|pintail]], [[gadwall]], and [[American wigeon]]. A number of diving ducks, including the [[lesser scaup]] and [[Redhead (bird)|redhead]], nest on the larger ponds and adjacent [[wet meadow]]s. Most species may be observed during the entire summer season. Fall migration reaches its height in late September or early October when up to 8,000 waterfowl may be present.
The wetlands also attract numerous marsh, shore, and water birds. [[Sora (bird)|Sora]] and [[Virginia rail]]s are numerous but seldom seen. If they are present, [[Wilson's phalarope]], [[American avocet]], [[willet]], [[sandpiper]]s, [[Greater yellowlegs]], and [[dowitcher]]s will be easy to observe. Other less common species include [[great blue heron]], [[black-crowned night heron]], [[American bittern]], and eared and pied-billed [[grebe]].
The upland hills harbor [[sage grouse]] year around with a winter population of more than 200 birds. [[Golden eagle]]s, several species of [[hawk]]s, and an occasional [[prairie falcon]] circle the skies above in search of food. Their prey includes [[Richardson's ground squirrel]], [[white-tailed prairie dog]], and [[white-tailed jackrabbit]].
[[American badger|Badger]], [[muskrat]], [[North American beaver|beaver]], [[mountain coyote|coyote]], and [[pronghorn]] are commonly observed. It is also possible to see a [[raccoon]], [[red fox]], [[American mink|mink]], [[long-tailed weasel]], or [[North American porcupine|porcupine]]. As many as 400 [[mule deer]] have wintered here and up to 200 [[Red deer|elk]] are frequently seen during the winter months. [[Moose]] have recently been reintroduced into North Park and may occasionally be observed in the [[willow]] thickets along the Illinois River bottoms. There are no venomous snakes anywhere in this forest.
==Wilderness areas==
There are six officially designated [[wilderness area]]s lying within Arapaho National Forest that are part of the [[National Wilderness Preservation System]]. Four of them are partially in neighboring National Forests, and one of these also onto [[National Park Service]] land (as indicated).
* [[Byers Peak Wilderness]], 13.93 square miles
* [[Indian Peaks Wilderness]], 119.9 square miles (partly in [[Roosevelt National Forest|Roosevelt NF]]; also partly in [[Rocky Mountain National Park]])
* [[James Peak Wilderness]], 26.59 square miles (mostly in Roosevelt NF)
* [[Mount Evans Wilderness]], 116.3 square miles (partly in [[Pike National Forest|Pike NF]])
* [[Never Summer Wilderness]], 32.95 square miles (partly in [[Routt National Forest|Routt NF]])
* [[Vasquez Peak Wilderness]], 19.22 square miles
== In popular culture ==
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Most of the movie ''[[Red Dawn]]'' is set in Arapaho National Forest.
The Grizzly West region of the video game [[Red Dead Redemption 2]] is heavily based on the Arapaho National Forest.
==References==
{{
{{clear}}
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{{sister project links}}
*[http://www.fs.usda.gov/arp Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland] (United States Forest Service)
* [http://www.coloradoguide.com/forests/forestdisplay.cfm?TrekkingID=3135 ColoradoGuide.com] {{
{{Colorado}}
{{Protected
{{National Forests of the United States}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Arapaho National Forest| ]]
[[Category:National Forests of Colorado]]
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