7 U.S. Forests That Look Straight Out of a Fairy Tale

When light filters through the mossy branches and the air smells like rain and cedars, it’s hard not to believe in the magic. Defeat The countrySome forests feel influenced by mythology – places where mist clings to the ground, waterfalls hum behind curtains of green, and every step feels like part of an ancient story. From the primeval rainforests of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical canopies of the Caribbean, here are seven of them AmericaThe most enchanting forests, ranked in descending order.

1. Fern Canyon | ca
2. White Mountain National Forest | New Hampshire and Maine
3. El Yunque National Forest | Puerto Rico
4. Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Tennessee and North Carolina
5. Redwood National and State Parks | ca
6. Tongass National Forest | Alaska
7. This is the rainforest Washington

Fern Canyon | ca

Located within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Fern Canyon It seemed like a hidden world carved out of green light. The walls rise high and drip seven species of fern, while a shallow stream flows across the rocky floor below. Getting there means venturing down an unpaved road near Ourik, but the reward is a valley so fertile that it feels otherworldly. Fallen logs, moss and filtered sunlight transform the canyon into a living fairy tale, one of Northern California’s most enchanting natural wonders.

White Mountain National Forest | New Hampshire and Maine

The forests White mountains Not only are they beautiful, they are alive with stories whispered through the pines. Ghost towns like Thornton Gore still stand beneath moss and stone walls, and hikers still talk about eerie sightings at Cloud Lakes Hut on Mount Washington.

The ruins of a World War II bomber lie deep in the woods near Woodstock, and a small marker near the Cog Railway remembers Lizzie Bourne, lost to a storm just shy of the summit. Even the Wallace Horse Cemetery in Littleton has a quiet, eerie feel to it. Beneath autumn leaves and snow-capped peaks, the White Mountains remain as intimidating as they are timeless.

El Yunque National Forest | Puerto Rico

Anvil It is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Forest System and one of Puerto Rico’s most sacred natural treasures. It is named for the Taino word Yuki– meaning “white land” – this lush haven of waterfalls, orchids and coqui frogs feels alive in every sense of the word.

Visitors can start at El Portal Visitor Center before hiking to natural pools, climbing to scenic lookouts like Yokahú Tower, or ziplining through the canopy. With its misty peaks, vibrant wildlife and echoes of Taino legend, El Yunque offers an experience that combines adventure and reverence.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Tennessee and North Carolina

Great Smoky Mountains You feel like you are in a living fairy tale – mist swirls through the trees, streams whisper over the stone, and sunlight penetrates the mist like magic. One of the park’s most enchanting hikes, the Alum Cave Trail, winds along a stream before climbing stone stairs into a cave that appears to have been carved for royalty.

Rustic bridges arch over the rushing water, winding roots wind across the path, and the panoramic views from Inspiration Point make the forest below seem endless. By the time you reach Alum Cave Bluff, shaded beneath its towering rock face, it’s clear that this isn’t just a hike — it’s an adventure inspired by legend.

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Redwood National and State Parks | ca

Home to the tallest trees on earth, Redwood National and State Parks Protecting nearly half of the planet’s remaining old-growth redwoods, some of which reach more than 370 feet tall. This vast World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve spans forests, rivers and a coastline shared by Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks. Visitors can hike, bike, camp, or horseback ride along 200 miles of trails lined with elk, wildflowers, and ocean mist. Among these ancient giants, every road seems like a march through life date.

Tongass National Forest | Alaska

It extends over an area of ​​approximately 17 million acres Tongass He is the biggest patriotic Forest in the United States, and the largest old-growth forest in the world. Near Ketchikan, the Carlana Lake Trail winds through this verdant wilderness, crossing wooden bridges and climbing flat stone steps beneath trees that have stood for more than eight centuries. Waterfalls sparkle through the greenery, and quiet paths reveal sweeping views of the lake and mountains beyond.

With its misty air, towering giants, and profound sense of stillness, the Tongass feels like a fairytale brought to life on the edge of the last frontier.

This is the rainforest Washington

On the west side of Olympic National Parkthe It’s the rainforest It receives up to 170 inches of rain each year, creating a world covered in moss, ferns, and mist. Often described as a real-life fairy tale, it is one of the finest remaining temperate rainforests in the United States.

Visitors can start at the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center and wander the Moss Hall or the Spruce Nature Trail, where green drips from every trunk and every branch feels vibrant. For the more adventurous, the 17-mile Hoh River Trail climbs toward Glacier Meadows and the shoulder of Mount Olympus—proof that wonder still thrives deep in the Pacific Northwest.

Whether you crave mist, moss, or myth, these forests prove that fairy tales aren’t limited to books—they quietly thrive Under our umbrella.