Public lands are one of America’s greatest generational resources. But lawmakers are currently trying to sell off huge swaths of our nation’s most beautiful and popular areas for outdoor recreation.
On June 12, a U.S. Senate committee proposed auctioning off more than 3.3 million acres of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). It’s part of President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” currently advancing through the Senate’s reconciliation process, which limits public input and allows Congress to pass bills with a simple majority vote.
This proposal favors oil, gas, and timber development. It reduces protections for recreation and wildlife, and allows developers to pay money to skip judicial review and public input. It even includes contracts for long-term logging. According to the Outdoor Alliance, those contracts “amount to de facto privatization of public forests” that would make the land sale process “ripe for abuse and cronyism.”
“It’s a horrible precedent to sell public lands just to pay for something,” Jamie Ervin, senior policy manager for Outdoor Alliance, said in a Wednesday policy meeting. “Congress always needs to pay for something, and we can’t have this fight every time.”
Last week, Outdoor Alliance issued a report listing how paddlers, climbers, hikers, and cyclists would be impacted by these land sales in Nevada and Utah. This week, the conservation organization published a map detailing the full extent of BLM and USFS land that will be on the “auction block” if this act passes. A majority vote needs just 51 votes in the Senate, where Republicans currently hold 53 seats.
Here’s a look at some of the areas that will be impacted if Congress passes this proposal.
Open for Auction: Places We Could Lose Under Senate Proposal
The following is just a small selection of places that are slated for auction. We seriously encourage you to look at the map created by the Outdoor Alliance and search for your favorite places to recreate. Chances are, you’ll see some you recognize that could be sold off.
If you’d like to take action, organizations like Outdoor Alliance, Trout Unlimited, and many others have prewritten emails that you can sign and send to your senators. You can also look up your senator’s contact information and call or email them directly.
Shrine Ridge: Whiteriver National Forest, CO
At the top of Vail Pass, on the west side of I-70, Shrine Ride is a gorgeous hiking, hunting, backcountry skiing, and snowmobiling area that is extremely popular year-round.
Locals from far and wide drive here to hike, ski, or ride in this spectacular and totally undeveloped swath of the Rocky Mountains. Not only is this a beautiful place, but it also has historical significance as an area where the 10th Mountain Division trained.
Lunch Loops: BLM, CO
One of the most popular places for mountain biking in Grand Junction, Colo., is known as the Lunch Loops trails. It is a stacked, single-track trail system that’s just 2 miles from Grand Junction’s downtown and is one of the most well-used local recreation resources.
It’s a technical trail system that’s got something for riders of all levels. You can drive to the trailhead or ride straight from town to access it.
Cameron Pass: Roosevelt National Forest, CO
Cameron Pass is in a remote part of Colorado, but it has become one of the area’s best backcountry ski spots. Located on the east side of Walden in Roosevelt National Forest, Cameron Pass is speckled with alpine lakes.
The peaks nearby look into Rocky Mountain National Park. It is riddled with campgrounds and hiking opportunities in the summer. It’s also one of the best places in the state to see moose.
Twin Lakes & Independence Pass: San Isabel National Forest, CO
On the east side of Independence Pass, Twin Lakes is a spectacular location for camping, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and skiing. It’s a popular place to camp in the summertime and offers spectacular hiking on Independence Pass.
The glacier-carved alpine lakes feed the Arkansas River. The small town on the lake’s shore was founded in 1865 and was an important historic town for mining and trade.
Much of Nevada’s BLM Lands
Nevada has more BLM land than any other state in the nation. Over 80% of the state’s area is managed by BLM. Just look at the OA map again. Much of Nevada’s public land designated as BLM would be up for auction under this bill.
That represents a massive amount of space people use for hiking, camping, backpacking, rock climbing, biking, and OHV recreation.
Cascade Mountain: BLM, UT
Just outside of Provo, Utah, Cascade Mountain is a frequented hiking and rock climbing destination for locals and visitors alike. For hikers seeking adventure, there are shorter loop trails and a 13-mile out-and-back trail.
Cascade Springs is accessible via the Alpine Loop Scenic Backway and offers waterfalls, clear pools, and boardwalk trails that offer great views and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Happy Canyon: BLM, UT
Located right next to Canyonlands National Park, Happy Canyon is an amazing parcel of BLM land to explore with your dogs, and where you can disperse camp almost anywhere. The area is filled with slot canyons you can wind your way into, as well as and other canyoneering opportunities.
Large Parts of Little Cottonwood Canyon: Wasatch National Forest, UT
Little Cottonwood Canyon is how most Salt Lake City–area skiers access Alta in the wintertime. The canyon also accesses Albion Basin and the Albion Alps. Many of the trailheads in this area are frequented year-round by backcountry skiers in the winter and hikers in the summer. It is one of the most popular and easily accessible recreation areas from Salt Lake City.
Absaroka Mountain Range: Bridger-Teton National Forest, WY
The Absaroka Mountain Range is located in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. It forms the eastern boundary of Yellowstone National Park along Paradise Valley and the western side of the Bighorn Basin. It’s a popular place for horseback riding, hiking, fishing, hunting, backpacking, and snowmobiling.
Wind River Range: Bridger-Teton National Forest, WY
Wyoming’s Wind River Range is also located in Bridger-Teton National Forest (specifically within the Bridger Wilderness Area). Popular landmarks and geography features like Cirque of the Towers, Titcomb Basin, and the Wind River High Route draw hikers and nature enthusiasts every year.
You can raft, kayak, and fish on the Wind River and hike, rock climb, and backpack through the surrounding mountains.
Mount Hood’s 44 Trails Network: Mount Hood National Forest, OR
On the east side of Mount Hood, there is a network of multi-use, non-motorized trails known as the 44 Trails Network.
It is maintained by a nonprofit organization for biking, hiking, trail running, and equestrian use. The organization improves existing trails and builds new ones where possible in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service. All of the trails in this network are within the Mount Hood National Forest, which would be up for auction.
Sandy Ridge Trail System: Mount Hood National Forest, OR
The Sandy Ridge Trail System encompasses 15 miles of singletrack trails between Portland and Mount Hood. It was created in 1994 when a group of citizens convinced BLM to designate the area as a Special Recreation Management Area.
It has been a popular place for mountain bikers and hikers ever since, and has a variety of trails that range from beginner to expert level riding.
Mount Bachelor: Deschutes National Forest, OR
Mount Bachelor in the Deschutes National Forest is also included in the areas slated for auction.
This is a highly visited destination in Oregon in both winter and summer. In the winter, there is downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and even dog sledding. In summer, people travel to Mount Bachelor to hike, bike, zip line, play disc golf, and more.
Trillium Lake: Mount Hood National Forest, OR
Just 7.5 miles from Mount Hood, Trillium Lake is a popular camping destination for its incredible views of Mount Hood. The 2-mile Trillium Lake Loop remains one of the most popular hikes in the area. It has numerous established campgrounds. The lake is also stocked with trout and is ideal for fishing and water recreation.
Headwaters of the Little White Salmon River: Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA
Nestled in the Monte Cristo Range, the Little Salmon River is a crown jewel of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. It’s a tributary of the Columbia River and is a legendary place for whitewater kayakers to test their mettle.
There are two campgrounds with a total of 39 campsites. There is also ample hiking opportunity, and since it is a designated wildlife corridor, there is also tons of fauna to witness.
Big Lava Bed: Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA
The Big Lava Bed crater is one of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest’s most unique geographical features. It’s the youngest feature in the Indian Haven Volcanic Field and is a popular place to hike and explore caves, crevasses, lava formations, and more. There are ample hiking and biking trails in the area, including a section of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Little Huckleberry Mountain: Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA
With stunning views of Mount Saint Helens, Little Huckleberry Mountain offers popular opportunities for horseback riding, camping, and hiking. At the summit, there are the remnants of an old fire lookout that people can explore. At the right time of summer, the area is full of wildflowers and (as the name implies) huckleberries that you can harvest and eat.
South Fork Payette River: Payette National Forest, ID
The Payette River is a great place for river rats. Its South Fork is a renowned whitewater rafting and kayaking destination. It is challenging and has rapid sections that draw paddlers from around the country.
Fishermen love the area, as it’s a blue-ribbon trout stream. There are several campgrounds along the river, a hot spring, and a scenic byway.
Huge Swaths of The Sawtooth Mountains: Sawtooth National Forest, ID
Under the proposed bill, huge swaths of the Sawtooth Mountains would be up for auction. This is one of the biggest places in central Idaho for outdoor and backcountry enthusiasts.
It is a playground for hiking, biking, camping, fishing, hunting, and whitewater rafting and kayaking. There are numerous day and multiday hikes in the area. In the wintertime, these mountains are popular among cross-country and backcountry skiers.
Trinity Alps: Stanislaus National Forest, CA
The granite peaks and pine forests of the Trinity Alps attract hikers, fishers, campers, and whitewater rafters from around California and the country. You can hike in the Trinity Alps Wilderness, as well as visit several lakes, including Canyon Creek, Boulder Creek, Emerald, Sapphire, and Trinity. Numerous rock climbing routes dot the area, and peaks like Siligo offer incredible views of the surroundings.
The Juniper Mountains: Prescott National Forest, AZ
Arizona’s arid desert isn’t safe from lawmakers, either. Prescott National Forest’s Juniper Mountains represent one of the area’s most attractive natural features. The area has many OHV trails for four-wheeling and dirt biking.
It’s popular among hikers and wildlife enthusiasts. The relatively flat terrain of the Juniper Mountains also makes them ideal for horseback riding.
Catwalk National Recreation Area: Gila National Forest, NM
Gila National Forest is home to many scenic trails, cliff dwellings, and an immense amount of wildlife. The Catwalk National Recreation Trail is just one of its gems on the auction block.
The trail offers scenic canyon views, fishing in Whitewater Creek, and swimming (or soaking) at Jordan Hot Springs. It’s also a gateway to the Gila National Forest and all of the recreation opportunities that exist there.
Shores & Surroundings of Prince William Sound: Chugach National Forest, AK
Chugach National Forest surrounds Prince William Sound, and is the largest national forest in the U.S. The Sound is extremely popular among fishermen, sea kayakers, whale watchers, and boaters.
It’s also a very popular place for wildlife and glacier viewing. The inlets have ample hiking and camping opportunities, and there are islands you can explore all the way out to the Gulf of Alaska.
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