To the east [1] of Hogwarts castle is a large, dark forest. This forest is strictly off limits to Hogwarts students, except in the course of occasional Care of Magical Creatures lessons (OP21) or detentions (PS15, DH15). Fred and George Weasley have spent quite a bit of time trying to get into it, naturally (PS cool . The forbidden forest is sometimes referred to as the Forbidden Forest but often as just "the forest."

The forest is thick with trees -- beech (PS13), oak (PS15, CS15, OP2 cool , pine (OP30), sycamore (CS15), and yew (OP21) are mentioned, as well as undergrowth such as knotgrass and thorns (OP30) -- but there are paths, brooks, and some clearings. Off the path, the way is almost impassable, although people have moved through it and creatures as large as Acromantulas and a Ford Anglia have managed to get around.

The forbidden forest is home to a wide and strange assortment of creatures. Anything wild and dangerous that needs a place to live is put there (which is what happened to Fluffy the giant three-headed dog [2]). Hagrid moves around the forest with respect but without fear. Any other person who has entered it, however, has emerged hoping never to enter it again.

There are areas around the edges of the forest that are part of the Hogwarts grounds but which are out of sight of the castle. Hagrid set up a paddock for hippogriffs in an area like this (PA6) and the dragons which had been brought in for the first task were confined here (GF19).

Hagrid's cabin is located at the edge of the forbidden forest.