OutsideMay 1, 2026
8 Victories That Give Hope in the Fight to Protect Public Lands
From a magical stretch of the California coast to 50,000 acres in Montana, conservationists are still finding ways to set aside land for protection.
14 things in this story
- Bogue Chitto State ParkSight800 acres acquired adjacent to park
- Elsewhere
- Deer Creek BeachSightMalibu, United States1,241-acre parcel became public land
- Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation AreaNature reserveLos Angeles, United Statesmanaged by the National Park Service
- SweetwaterSightTucson, United States900-acre preserve with 16 interconnected trails
- Pines to Mines TrailTrailNevada City, United States22 miles secured, will cross Pacific Crest Trail
- Point Mugu State ParkSightPoint Mugu, United StatesThe rugged, nearly impassible shoreline of the western Santa Monica Mountains gives way to tidal lagoons and coastal…
- Topanga State ParkSightTopanga, United StatesIt is part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
- Spirit of Mount Spokane Forest Legacy ProjectSightSpokane, United Statesadded 22,000 acres in northern Idaho
- Horse Lake MountainSightOkanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, United Statessummit is part of new parcel
- Appalachian TrailTrailHarpers Ferry, United Statesthree acres protected near Weverton Cliffs
- South Mountain State ParkSightBoonsboro, United Statestrail runs through it
- Maroon Sanctuary Territorial ParkSightSt. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islandslargest park in the U.S. Virgin Islands
- Annaly BaySightSt. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islandstide pools preserved
- Cane BaySightSt. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islandsreef safeguarded