The Nebraska National Forest is a United States National Forest in the U.S. state of Nebraska. The total area of the national forest is 141,864 acres (574 km2).The national forest includes two ranger districts. The 90,000-acre (364 km2) Bessey Ranger District is in the Sandhills of central Nebraska. Encompassing about 63.9% of the forest's total area, it lies in parts of Thomas and Blaine counties. It was established in 1902 by Charles E.