[4] Petroglyphs found throughout the forest suggest that the land had been hunted for centuries by native Americans before the arrival of Europeans.

The first white men believed to have set foot in Ashley National Forest were the Spanish explorers Dominques and Escalante, in 1776.

The forest, however, was not thoroughly explored until the early 19th century when General William Henry Ashley, an organizer of a fur company, began looking for an outlet to the Gulf of Mexico for his business.

General Ashley and his team began making their way up the Green River (one of the many bodies of water located in the forest) in the spring of 1825.

After passing through the Flaming Gorge, General Ashley was convinced by the native Americans to turn around and head back up the Uinta Mountains.

During the winter months, there are two facilities located in the forest called Yurts that provide cross-country skiers with overnight room rentals to escape the cold.

With a main crest stretching more than 60 miles (97 km) and surrounded by massive secondary ridges extending north and south, this mountain range is the largest alpine area located in the Intermountain west.

The Uinta Mountains are also the home to many different types of wildlife including, elk, moose, mule deer, coyotes, black bears, ptarmigan, several raptor species, beavers, marten, river otters, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, cougars, pikas, and marmots.

The reservoir and Green River upstream are known for supporting a large number of trout, which makes the recreational area a fishing destination.