Our Wild West Heritage
Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau is one of the last remnants of the Wild West. This untamed area covers parts of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico
More than 40 million people come to the Colorado Plateau every year. Whether it is to hike, camp, paddle or sightsee, they get to experience the landscapes for which the West is famous.
Why the Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau is a living geology lesson and home to some of the West's greatest wonders, including the Grand Canyon, Utah's redrock country and Mesa Verde National Park. Yet, no matter how awe-inspiring, the lands of the Plateau are not safe from the threat of oil and gas development and mining.
Stories from the Colorado Plateau
Find out more about the Colorado Plateau, from the people that live, work and play there.
Experience the Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau includes rugged landscapes you'll not see anywhere else. Home to some of the West's best-known national parks, national monuments and wilderness areas, the Colorado Plateau has something for everyone.
Focus areas
The Colorado Plateau is an incredibly diverse network of landscapes. The Wilderness Society works to protect everything from red rock canyons to high alpine forests and mountain peaks.
Other campaigns
In addition to working to protect lands in areas above, we also work in the Colorado Plateau to make sure that oil and gas drilling is done responsibly. We’re also working to make sure that lands that are already protected are managed so that they stay that way.
Help Protect the Colorado Plateau
There are many ways you can help ensure the Colorado Plateau remains a vibrant place for generations to come.
Notes from the Field
Learn more about issues affecting the places we work to protect with our Notes from the Field.
Take Action
Add your voice to important wilderness causes and take action to stop threats to our wildlands by joining our community of wilderness activists.
Policy and Science Library
Find fact sheets, reports and other resources related to wilderness policy and conservation.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013If the Senate is any indication, your support of wilderness bills may meet success this year.
Saturday, June 15, 2013Whether you intend to visit a major city, or you live in one and are looking for a quick weekend trip, a visit to Wilderness is often nearby.
Friday, June 14, 2013Just as you rely on wild places to rejuvenate and restore you, those places rely on you to keep them in good condition.
Friday, June 14, 2013A final plan for the SunZia transmission project raises serious concerns about impacts to Arizona’s sensitive San Pedro Valley.
Friday, June 7, 2013The memorandum specifically calls on federal agencies to collaborate on identifying suitable places on public lands that avoid sensitive na
Wednesday, May 15, 2013Yet, here we are, with people and the government unable to stop furloughs, job losses, and lower revenue to keep the government functioning. Our public lands have certainly not been spared from this indiscriminate budget ax.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013Like a dutiful sentinel, the lookout quietly watches over the wild, waiting for visitors to make their way through beautiful alpine meadows to the summit of Green Mountain.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013But Alaska’s Sen. Lisa Murkowski refused to accept that decision. She and residents of the tiny community of King Cove are fighting to have the decision overturned.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013Birdwatchers travel from far and wide to northwest Colorado to see male sage-grouse strut their stuff in hopes of attracting a mate. Early spring is prime season to catch these timid grouse dancing on the lek and shaking their tail feathers through organized tours.
A factsheet about the Green Mountain Lookout.
A support letter for H.R. 908/S. 404, the Green Mountain Lookout Heritage Protection Act, introduced in February by Reps. DelBene and Larsen and Sens. Murray and Cantwell.
Dear Representative Gosar:
On behalf of the National Association of Counties (NACo), I am writing to express our support of the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act (H.R. 596). This landmark legislation would extend royalties and lease income from solar and wind projects developed on Federal lands to home states and counties.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013The Wilderness Society tonight applauded the passage of five wilderness and conservation bills in the U.S. Senate. We are hopeful that the passage is a sign of things to come in the House, as the previous Congress – the 112th – was the first since 1966 to not designate a single new acre of wilderness.The wilderness and conservation bills that passed include:
Tuesday, June 18, 2013Contacts:
Alan Rowsome, (202)285-8134, alan_rowsome@tws.org
Emily Diamond-Falk, (202) 841-8605, emily_diamond-falk@tws.org
WASHINGTON (June 18, 2013) – The Wilderness Society today took a position on several bills being marked-up in the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Friday, June 14, 2013A final plan for the SunZia Southwest transmission project was released today by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) identifying the agency’s preferred routes in Arizona and New Mexico.