Defend America’s backcountry forests: Protect the Roadless Rule

The Roadless Rule protects many of our country’s most valued backcountry recreation areas. These forests provide clean air and water, fight climate change, and are the backbone of a $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy that supports 5 million jobs. Right now, the Roadless Rule is at risk of being rescinded completely.

What is a Roadless Area?

About half of National Forest land is already open to drilling, logging, and mining. Another 18% is protected as Wilderness. The remaining 30%—our Roadless Areas—are remote, roadless landscapes treasured by the outdoor community for the backcountry recreation experiences they provide.

What is the Roadless Rule?

The Roadless Rule was established in 2001 after enormous public outreach and was designed to keep our backcountry forests wild and accessible, while still allowing recreation and responsible management. This means that we cannot build new roads or harvest timber on these Roadless Areas, but they are still open for a range of recreational activities including climbing, hiking, mountain biking, paddling, and backcountry skiing.

Why is the Roadless Rule Important?

The Roadless Rule keeps some of the best backcountry experiences—like 26,647 miles of trails and nearly 19,596 miles of mountain biking—open and wild. It prevents large-scale logging and road building, protects clean air and water, and helps fight climate change by storing carbon in old-growth forests like the Tongass.

Roadless Rule Under Threat

Right now, the USDA is on track to rescind the Roadless Rule, rolling back protections for millions of acres of our National Forests. This puts backcountry recreation at risk, including 8,743 climbing routes and bouldering problems, 782 miles of whitewater paddling runs, 26,647 miles of trail, and 19,596 miles of mountain biking. If these protections are lost, some of your favorite places to hike, climb, or ski could be opened to logging and road construction.

The Forest Service is accepting your comments until September 19, 2025. Your voice can help keep these forests wild. Submit your comment today to protect the places you love.

 
 
 

More Information

 

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

 
 

Interactive map of U.S. Roadless Areas and Recreation

 

News and Alerts

Featured
54624342802_f79307249f_o.jpg
Roadless Rule Under Threat: Speak Up for 45 Million Acres of National Forests

Nearly 45 million acres of backcountry forests are at risk. Before September 19, tell the USDA to keep these landscapes protected.

paxson-woelber-s0kuD2Rw3nk-unsplash.jpg
USDA Plans to Rescind the Roadless Rule, Putting Backcountry Recreation at Risk

Yesterday, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the agency’s intent to rescind the Roadless Rule, which would be a devastating blow to America’s backcountry public lands and the millions of people who rely on them for outdoor recreation, clean air and water, and climate resilience.

hannah-wernecke-fRy-9V1TtXI-unsplash.jpg
Protections Restored for Tongass National Forest in Alaska

Today, the Biden administration restored protections for the country’s largest National Forest, a major success for the outdoors, Tribes, and the country’s climate goals.

zeke-tucker-4FQVDB2Y_MI-unsplash.jpg
Restoring Protections in the Tongass

Until January 24, the Forest Service wants to hear from you about restoring protections for America’s largest National Forest.

AK_Arctic_NWR_MasonCummings_180710_2091.jpg
What’s going on in Alaska and what can we do to help?

You may have heard that the Trump administration has been moving to lease off the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska for oil and gas drilling, and open the country’s largest national forest in its final days in office. Here’s what’s happening and how the outdoor community can help.

holly-mandarich-lIlo8mg774U-unsplash.jpg
Protecting Backcountry Recreation: All About the Roadless Area Conservation Act

When the administration rolled back protections on the country’s largest national forest, we mentioned one key effort to protect our backcountry forests. That’s the Roadless Area Conservation Act. Here’s everything you need to know about the bill, plus its path to law.

riley-uiNFzQYdMNE-unsplash.jpg
Trump Administration Strips Protections from America’s Largest National Forest

The Trump administration has eliminated Roadless Rule protections for the entirety of the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, the country’s largest, which will now be open to significant logging, road building, and development.

TongassNF_photo_by_USFS.jpg
The Roadless Rule and the Tongass National Forest

Read on for more information about the Roadless Rule, and what’s at stake with the Tongass National Forest.
Sign the Letter to Protect Utah’s National Forests

The state of Utah wants to roll back protections on its National Forests. It’s time to speak up to the Forest Service and ask them to reject Utah’s proposals.

sebastian-callahan-416934-unsplash.jpg
Utah Petitions Forest Service to Dismantle Roadless Protections

Utah is officially petitioning the Forest Service to roll back protections on its National Forests, which would eliminate protections for nearly 80% of currently protected backcountry skiing, more than half of currently protected climbing, 79% of the state’s currently protected paddling, and 79% of the state’s currently protected hiking and mountain biking.