Four National Monuments where Conservation Meets World-Class Outdoor Recreation

Katahdin Waters & Woods, Photo credit: Clay Banks

The idea to set aside land for the common use of the public, to protect stunning and beautiful landscapes for the simple purpose of enjoyment and conservation—it’s one of those ideas that unites us as Americans. It’s an idea that everyone can get behind because we know what it’s like to feel awe in the presence of nature. Because during times of crisis, going outside is a totally free, very effective means of connecting with ourselves and with our communities. Because we all want to share the places we love so dearly with our friends, family and future generations.

For nearly 150 years, the United States has led the world in ideas of conservation — from National Parks to Wilderness Areas. But in 1906, the Antiquities Act created an avenue for presidents of the United States to proclaim that landscapes of inherent beauty and cultural value are worth protecting and setting aside for the public, forevermore. It’s a tool that almost every president has used since. Today, Americans enjoy more than 18.6 million acres of land designated as National Monuments.

Another American idea? Outdoor recreation. This country is full of some of the best trails in the world. The history of climbing and mountain biking begins here. And thanks to our National Monuments, several thousand miles of hiking and biking trails are protected, as are more than 4,800 climbing routes.

The Organ Mountains, Browns Canyon, Katahdin and the San Gabriels are all National Monuments where conservation meets world-class outdoor recreation. They are among the world’s most beautiful destinations, places where humans have stepped foot for thousands and thousands of years, places where trails lead to quiet vistas, where climbers can invest sweat and effort to ascend great heights. Here’s a glimpse into what makes each of these National Monuments worthy of any bucket list.

Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument, New Mexico

Southern New Mexico’s Organ Mountains tower above the Chihuahuan Desert floor. The 20-mile-long range is a toothy skyline of granite spires that taps 9,000 feet in elevation — hovering almost a mile-high above the nearby city of Las Cruces. Hundreds of climbing routes and miles of multi-use trails lie within those walls and canyons. There’s more climbing in the Organ Mountains than anyone could do in a lifetime, according to the folks at Mountain Project.

But what’s truly special about this National Monument is the timeless history these mountains contain. According to the Native Lands map, the Organ Mountains are land of the Mescalero Apache, Tampachoa, and Piro peoples. Petroglyphs, ceramic fragments, fossils, even ancient dwellings are tucked away in the granite, alongside the juniper trees and flowering cacti. The Organ’s history traces Indigenous cultures, Spanish explorers, western outlaws as famous as Billy the Kid and Geronimo, and stagecoach travel, all the way to the outdoor recreationists of our present day.

Browns Canyon National Monument, Colorado

The most popular way to experience Browns Canyon National Monument, located near Salida and Buena Vista, is by water. The 21,589-acre National Monument is a highlight in the first leg of the Arkansas River’s long journey from Colorado’s Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi. At Browns Canyon National Monument, paddlers of all kinds—from experienced kayakers to beginner whitewater rafters on a commercially guided trip—follow the snowmelt-fed current downstream as the Arkansas drops some 3,000 feet in elevation. Browns Canyon is also a coveted destination for flyfishing.

Water may be the easiest and most traveled means of experiencing Browns Canyon. However, those seeking a more far-off journey can follow the hiking trails that leave the riverbanks to weave through aspen groves and climb to granite-strewn vistas. For thousands of years, this landscape saw people from multiple Indigenous tribes and nations come here to hunt and gather food, including the Ute, Apache, Eastern Shoshone and Comanche. Today, this slice of Colorado is savored for its remote character and solitude. Perhaps the only company you’ll find are the bighorn sheep, elk, peregrine falcons and golden eagles.

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine

Located in northern Penobscot County, Maine, Katahdin is land of the Penobscot Nation and Wabanaki people. It’s shady, thick woods Maine. It’s cloud-covered mountains Maine. Wild rivers Maine. It’s moose, bobcats, bald eagles, salmon Maine. It’s millions and millions of stars in the night Maine—you can even catch glimpses of the aurora borealis here during certain times of year.
During these last few years, visitation has grown exponentially at many of the well-known National Monuments throughout the West. But way up in the northern reaches of Maine, Katahdin Woods and Waters still feels relatively unknown and undiscovered. Its hard-to-reach location adds to the 89,562-acre National Monument’s obscurity. When a group of three outdoor and adventure photographers, all local Mainers, set out five years ago to explore Katahdin, they saw just two other people throughout their five-day adventure. They covered a lot of ground and water — 22 miles of paddling canoes downriver, 21 miles of biking on logging roads and singletrack, and 21 miles of hiking the rugged stretch of the Appalachian Trail that traverses Katahdin.

“We emerged from the backcountry having discovered more than just a beautiful part of Maine. We found endless potential for world-class outdoor recreation,” says Cait Bourgault, one of those three photographers, in the video that documents their adventure.

San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, California

Escaping the concrete paradise of Los Angeles is easier said than done — like paddling through whitewater to get to the wave. But once you get through the traffic, the maze of interstates and freeways, the endless stripmalls, the road starts to incline, wrapping around hairpin turns that lead you farther up and away from the urban sprawl. The San Gabriel Mountains National Monument — spanning more than 346,000 acres of rugged mountains and chaparral forests that hug the eastern edge of the Los Angeles Basin — protects some 70 percent of the open space in Los Angeles County and provides a third of the country’s drinking water. And considering the nationwide conversation and critical need to bring more access to the outdoors closer to urban centers, it’s notable to remember that the San Gabriels are the “backyard” for 15 million people who live within a 90-minute drive. For so many urban families in Los Angeles, the San Gabriels are the only place nearby where one can take in the fresh air and experience the natural world at such a large scale.

This high up, temperatures drop quickly and that’s an advantage for recreating outside in Southern California. Palm trees give way to Jeffrey, Pinyon and Lodgepole pines. The San Gabriels host the tallest mountains in Southern California — the hike to the 10,000-foot summit of Mount Baldy squeezes some 4,000 feet in elevation into 11 grueling miles. During the winter, the San Gabriels’ peaks offer skiing — with slopes much steeper than you’d think. Not to mention the striking sight of snow visible from the swimming pools in Palm Springs. During the hot days of summer, the mountains are a much-needed reprieve for Angeleños with plenty of trails to hike, mountain bike and ride horses.

Protecting places like the San Gabriels—along with Katahdin, the Organ Mountains, Browns Canyon—under the Antiquities Act is a huge and meaningful action for Americans, with a long history of precedence. The next time we step foot on a dusty trail, or set up a climbing anchor, or prepare for a long, flowy descent on our mountain bike, take a moment to celebrate the truly American idea of National Monuments. Then enjoy the rest of your ride.