Hoarfrost and fog in winter forest, Pike National Forest, Colorado, USA - stock photo

The Pike National Forest is located in the Front Range of Colorado, United States, west of Colorado Springs and including Pikes Peak and the famous Garden of the Gods. The forest encompasses 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.