Sierra National Forest spans the western slope of California’s central Sierra Nevada between Yosemite and Kings Canyon, encompassing mountain lakes, deep elevation changes, and extensive old growth forest. Established in 1893 as the Sierra Forest Reserve, it was once California’s second national forest and its largest, but its original six million acres were later divided to help form Sequoia National Forest, parts of Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks, and sections of several other forests. The area has been home to Indigenous communities for more than 10,000 years. Today it supports recreation, timber history, and an ongoing debate over stronger federal protection and possible national monument status.