| Capitol Forest History |
Capitol Forest is more than 90,000 acres of forest land in the Black Hills that is managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Capitol
Forest is a working forest that responsibly balances recreation interests and tree harvesting to help fund state schools, universities, road construction and
libraries.
Capitol Forest is a place for a wide variety of recreation opportunities. Open to the public since 1955, mountain bikers, campers, hikers, hunters, horse back
riders, and motorcycle riders all recreate here. More than 800,000 people visit the forest each year. To prevent conflicts between motorized and non motorized
recreation Capitol Forest is divided into two parts. Motorized recreation in the northern half and non motorized in the southern half, with trails open from April
1 through October 31 and closed for the winter. Mountain bikes and hikers are allowed access to both halves of the forest year round. Trail closures during the
winter months help to protect forest soils and streams.
Forest is a working forest that responsibly balances recreation interests and tree harvesting to help fund state schools, universities, road construction and
libraries.
Capitol Forest is a place for a wide variety of recreation opportunities. Open to the public since 1955, mountain bikers, campers, hikers, hunters, horse back
riders, and motorcycle riders all recreate here. More than 800,000 people visit the forest each year. To prevent conflicts between motorized and non motorized
recreation Capitol Forest is divided into two parts. Motorized recreation in the northern half and non motorized in the southern half, with trails open from April
1 through October 31 and closed for the winter. Mountain bikes and hikers are allowed access to both halves of the forest year round. Trail closures during the
winter months help to protect forest soils and streams.
| 1975 DNR Book File Donated By Dale Van Kirk |
| 1970 DNR Trail Map Photos Images donated by Cathy Cooper |
HISTORY
1870
First timber claims in what would become Capitol Forest.
1880
A Utopian society from Brooklyn, New York takes up residence in the
forest. Most of the members do not last past the first winter.
1880-1890's
Start of logging in the forests of the Black Hills.
1889
Washington becomes the 42nd state, and Congress grants it 5,000 acres
in the area that would become Capitol Forest.
1898
Start of logging camp that would become the town of Bordeaux.
1902
Devastating forest fires.
1906-1940
The forest is harvested by railroad logging companies. More than 80
percent of the forest is logged; some major forest fires burn and re burn
over part of the Black Hills. Over 100 miles of railroads were built
through out the Black Hills. Many rail beds later became trails and roads
that are still used today.
1920-1930's
Logging town of Bordeaux, in what is now Capitol Forest has a
population of 300-500.
1933
With support from foresters, the Legislature acts to assure the long-term
timber supply, and starts what would become Capitol State Forest by
authorizing:
Purchase of 52,000 acres of logged, burned-over land for 50 cents per
acre.
Transfer of suitable, tax-defaulted lands from the counties to the state
Forest Board, to be managed FOREVER as commercial forest. 14,000
acres are eventually transferred.
1941
Bordeaux becomes a ghost town.
1938-1942
Civilian Conservation Corps plants 7 million seedlings in Capitol Forest
from Wedekind Planting Camp. The public is kept out of Capitol Forest
to prevent devastating wildfires.
1955
Capitol Forest opens for public recreation and other uses, provided they
do not conflict with meeting the needs of the resources and the trusts.
1956
Cedar Creek Corrections Camp is created. Inmates help in forest
management, planting thinning, fighting forest fires and trail maintenance.
1957
Forest management continues under the newly created Department of
Natural resources.
1960
First commercial thinning of forest to promote a healthier forest.
1970
15,000 acres added to the forest.
1980
Capitol Forest becomes the first block of state land in Washington to
have its own sustainable harvest described and regulated under a forest
plan.
1989
10,000 acres added to the forest.
1996
Since 1980 forest timber has increased 1 billion board feet.
1997-1999
Scientific studies of ecological relationships, harvest patterns, aesthetics,
economics, and forest stand growth are begun in the forest. Information
from the studies will help DNR develop a new plan to manage Capitol
Forest.
2000
DNR maps historic sites in Capitol Forest to protect remnants of its
heritage.
Experimental structural retention harvest study by The University of
Washington
1870
First timber claims in what would become Capitol Forest.
1880
A Utopian society from Brooklyn, New York takes up residence in the
forest. Most of the members do not last past the first winter.
1880-1890's
Start of logging in the forests of the Black Hills.
1889
Washington becomes the 42nd state, and Congress grants it 5,000 acres
in the area that would become Capitol Forest.
1898
Start of logging camp that would become the town of Bordeaux.
1902
Devastating forest fires.
1906-1940
The forest is harvested by railroad logging companies. More than 80
percent of the forest is logged; some major forest fires burn and re burn
over part of the Black Hills. Over 100 miles of railroads were built
through out the Black Hills. Many rail beds later became trails and roads
that are still used today.
1920-1930's
Logging town of Bordeaux, in what is now Capitol Forest has a
population of 300-500.
1933
With support from foresters, the Legislature acts to assure the long-term
timber supply, and starts what would become Capitol State Forest by
authorizing:
Purchase of 52,000 acres of logged, burned-over land for 50 cents per
acre.
Transfer of suitable, tax-defaulted lands from the counties to the state
Forest Board, to be managed FOREVER as commercial forest. 14,000
acres are eventually transferred.
1941
Bordeaux becomes a ghost town.
1938-1942
Civilian Conservation Corps plants 7 million seedlings in Capitol Forest
from Wedekind Planting Camp. The public is kept out of Capitol Forest
to prevent devastating wildfires.
1955
Capitol Forest opens for public recreation and other uses, provided they
do not conflict with meeting the needs of the resources and the trusts.
1956
Cedar Creek Corrections Camp is created. Inmates help in forest
management, planting thinning, fighting forest fires and trail maintenance.
1957
Forest management continues under the newly created Department of
Natural resources.
1960
First commercial thinning of forest to promote a healthier forest.
1970
15,000 acres added to the forest.
1980
Capitol Forest becomes the first block of state land in Washington to
have its own sustainable harvest described and regulated under a forest
plan.
1989
10,000 acres added to the forest.
1996
Since 1980 forest timber has increased 1 billion board feet.
1997-1999
Scientific studies of ecological relationships, harvest patterns, aesthetics,
economics, and forest stand growth are begun in the forest. Information
from the studies will help DNR develop a new plan to manage Capitol
Forest.
2000
DNR maps historic sites in Capitol Forest to protect remnants of its
heritage.
Experimental structural retention harvest study by The University of
Washington
