United States federal law defines the term
Forest Highway as "a forest road under the jurisdiction of, and maintained by, a public authority and open to public travel." Forest highways are designated by the
United States Forest Service and funded by the
federal government, but are generally owned and maintained by the
states or
counties in which they are located. The forest highway system comprises approximately of roads. Forest highways are usually marked with markers in the shape of an
isosceles trapezoid, wider at the top and narrower at the base. The shields are brown with a white border and divided by a horizontal white line. In the majority of the space (above the line), the number of the route appears in white
Highway Gothic numbers, while in the smaller space below the line is written "National Forest" in the cursive
Forest Service logotype used to write "National Forest" on national forest gateway signs. To qualify for inclusion in the system, a roadway must "be wholly or partially within, or adjacent to, and serving the National Forest System" among other criteria. ==History==