Some of America's best loved places are among the 388 units of the National Park System. From snowmobiles in Yellowstone to a wilderness designation in the Grand Canyon, decisions are being made that will affect our parks forever. Never has there been a better time to get involved in their protection.

America's national parks are places of wonder and beauty. From the astonishing array of wildlife at Yellowstone to the roar of Lower Yosemite Falls and the profound stillness of the Grand Canyon, these lands are some of the most beloved places in America.

We may like to think that our national parks have the strictest protections, yet many are facing serious threats that could have lasting impacts on the ability of future generations to enjoy them.

Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park stirs images of wide expanses, steep cliffs, travertine waterfalls, and the wild and tumultuous Colorado River a mile below the rim of the magnificent canyon. The River has unsuccessfully been proposed for wilderness designation several times. Current management planning will decide the fate of the river for decades to come.
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Great Smoky Mountains
With over 10 million visitors per year, Great Smokey Mountains National Park is our nation's most visited national park. It is both an International Biosphere Reserve and a National Heritage Site. Every year Americans flock to see its majestic mountains, hike along its scenic trails, and view wildlife. To keep the Park pristine, The Wilderness Society is working on solutions for two ongoing threats.
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Alaska's Parks
The National Park Service has begun developing Backcountry Management Plans for Denali, Gates of the Arctic, Glacier Bay and Wrangell St. Elias National Parks. Together, these parks encompass 21 million acres of designated Wilderness and another 9 million acres of potential wilderness. Conservationists are fearful that the Park Service will allow snowmobiles in areas of Denali that have been found suitable for wilderness designation. Among the most important plans is the one pending for Denali National Park.
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Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park was established as the nation's first national park in 1872. Rich in wildlife and spectacular scenery, Yellowstone is beloved by people all around the world. However, an average of 66,000 snowmobiles each year shatter the solitude, pollute the air, and diminish the quality of experience many visitors seek.
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Cumberland Island, Georgia
Cumberland, interposed between the Georgia coast and the pounding Atlantic, is among the largest undeveloped barrier islands in the world. It's both the largest and southernmost of Georgia's barrier islands and is accessible only by boat. Much of Cumberland is wild. Our challenge is to ensure that the National Park Service manages it to keep it the wild place that it is.
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