Our parks and trails network
Mason Cummings, The Wilderness Society
Outdoor recreation should be accessible and sustainable.
Outdoor recreation is integral to our nation’s relationship with nature, and more important than ever in an age of smartphones and big public health concerns.
We work on increasing opportunities to camp, climb, paddle and otherwise play outside, as well as advocating policies that keep public lands, our prime outdoor recreation spots, intact, accessible and well-maintained.
This work takes place in many forms and on many fronts. On the big-picture scale, we champion increased access for outdoor leaders who take people out on public lands, as well as the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which helps improve access across the country and makes parks “whole.” Other key projects include support of conservation corps programs that put volunteers to work maintaining (often neglected) trails and various measures to expand access for human-powered recreation on our public lands.
Americans don’t get outside as much as they used to, to the detriment of their physical health, mental wellbeing and general connection with nature. Expanding access to outdoor recreation and taking care of the public lands and waters benefits people and contributes to the economy.
What we're doing
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Boosting recreation
We advocate for public land management policies that specifically prioritize and maximize outdoor recreation opportunities.
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Encouraging sustainable access
We encourage greater access to public lands for human-powered outdoor recreation while keeping wilderness areas protected as-is. At the same time, we advocate for opportunities for mountain biking and other activities in other, less sensitive areas.
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Working to fund parks
We advocate to keep authorized in law and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which pays for completing and creating parks, open spaces and local recreation projects without burdening taxpayers.
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Helping outdoor guides
We support legislation that increases access for guides and other outdoor leaders who take people out on public lands.
What you can do
Join our WildAlert list for opportunities to tell elected officials that our wildlands deserve protection.
