More Wild Land
24 million acres in the Rockies protected in wilderness bill
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
With the edges of civilization forever creeping into our wild spaces, we figure wilderness needs all the help it can get. That’s why we’re stoked about a bill introduced in Congress today that would protect 24 million acres in the Rocky Mountains.
The bill would include roadless land in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon and Washington, the stomping grounds of several rare and endangered species like grizzly bears and gray wolves. Several rivers such as the Columbia, Snake, Green and Missouri would also be added to the Wild and Scenic Rivers program, an act that preserves rivers in their free-flowing condition.
As if this news isn’t good enough, the bill would also create jobs for the restoring of old clear-cut areas and the removal of logging roads.
If this bill inspires you to enjoy the lands that would be protected like Glacier, Yellowstone, Blackfeet Wilderness, and Hells Canyon, head to Destinations to find some hikes in those areas. For 150 pages of new reading material, check out the complete text of the legislation here and come back soon for an update on how the bill is moving in Washington, D.C.
–Morgan Keys
Wilderness bill introduced in Congress to protect 24 million acres in Rockies (The Missoulian)
Image Credit: Ken Thomas
