100 Things We Love About Public Lands (part 1)
It's no secret that we think public lands are the best. Along with being one of the greatest ideas America has ever had, public lands are one of the greatest parts of living here. Over the last few weeks, we've been compiling a list of the 100 best things about public lands.
Check out the first half below, and leave your favorite things about public lands in the comments (who knows, they may show up in part 2).
- They’re free!
- Seeing the first indian paintbrush of the season
- Skinny dipping in freezing alpine lakes
- Reflections on a perfectly still lake in the morning
- Granite that’s warm even after the sun goes down
- Owning a little piece of the most beautiful places in the country
- Dreaming in color at altitude
- Escaping the sounds of traffic
- Always having a new place to explore
- Identifying moss and lichen on the trees
- Falling asleep to the sound of running water
- Drinking snow melt off in the spring
- Wading across a river
- Watching a summit get closer, bit by bit
- Stargazing into the universe
- Escaping the crowds and camping on a forest road
- Discovering the route to the top of a peak
- The chance to reconnect with friends
- Practicing the Leave No Trace skills your parents taught you as a kid
- Summer picnics
- Places to challenge yourself
- Sleeping under the stars
- Dew on your sleeping bag
- Knowing that you have a say in how these places are managed
- The first glimpse of the Colorado after you climb into the Grand Canyon
- Some of the best trail systems in the world
- Pine trees!
- Landscapes so spectacular, no millionaire can ever buy them
- Standing on a pass and seeing nothing but mountains in every direction
- The bluest skies at altitude
- Spotting brown bears early in the season
- Escaping the concrete and experiencing the land as it really is
- No one caring if you don’t wear deodorant
- Mustering the courage to jump off a waterfall
- No matter where we come from, we can all enjoy them
- Walking in the footsteps of John Muir
- The font that the Forest Service uses
- The feeling of being at home
- When you can carry everything you need on your back
- Scrambling across a boulder field
- Walking where it seems like no one has ever walked before
- Knowing that I own these places
- Roaming free
- Hearing the wind in the aspens
- Feeling like you can go back in time
- Seeing the sun rise over the mountains
- Feeling like a speck in the universe
- Places without cell service
- Rain falling on your tent
- Whether I live in Maryland or Texas, I have a stake in protecting, accessing, and caring for the great outdoors
Right now, there's a battle looming over millions of acres of public land, threatening our access to the outdoors. Learn more and sign the petition today.
