Pike National Forest spans a vast section of Colorado’s Front Range west of Colorado Springs, including Pikes Peak and more than one million acres shaped by elevation, geology, and a highland climate. Much of its terrain rests on distinctive Pikes Peak granite, and its waters include the South Platte, Fountain Creek, and Rampart Reservoir. Named for Zebulon Pike, the forest has been managed with San Isabel National Forest since 1973 and contains the Buffalo Peaks, Lost Creek, and Mount Evans wilderness areas. Wildfire has been central to its modern history, especially the destructive Hayman Fire of 2002 and Waldo Canyon Fire of 2012, followed by major restoration efforts.