If you've been following this series, you already know that public lands decisions are rarely simple — they involve competing mandates, multiple agencies, and stakeholders with vastly different relationships to the land. The fight over the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota is one of the most consequential public lands battles playing out right now, and it's happening fast. The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on a resolution that would overturn a 20-year mining ban protecting one of the most visited wilderness areas in the country — using the same Congressional Review Act tool we covered in our BLM basics post. Here's what you need to know.

What is the Boundary Waters

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota represents one of the most visited and ecologically significant wilderness areas in the U.S., drawing over 150,000 visitors annually— making the proposed Twin Metals mine so contentious. The case presents as a multiple-use conflict, defined by federal public lands management since the passage of the Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960 and Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. Together with the Superior National Forest, the region contains 20% of all freshwater in the entire National Forest System, and the Boundary Waters is home to over 1,100 lakes, 1,200 miles of canoe routes, and a regional economy generating $78 million in annual output and supporting 1,100 jobs. It is part of the boreal forest biome, home to endangered species including the gray wolf and Canada lynx, and serves as a dark sky sanctuary. Beyond recreation, the proposed mine sits within Tribal Ceded Territories where the Ojibwe retain usufructuary rights — the right to hunt, fish, and gather — under the Treaty of 1854.

What is Twin Metals proposing

Twin Metals Minnesota, a subsidiary of Antofagasta, a Chilean mining conglomerate, is proposing to extract copper, nickel, and platinum—minerals considered critical to the energy transition and national security. The Duluth Complex in northeastern Minnesota contains these critical minerals which are highly sought after—95% of the country's known nickel resources, 88% of cobalt, 75% of platinum group metals, and a third of copper. Twin Metals is proposing to use dry stacking instead of traditional wet tailings ponds, which reduces the risk of dam failures, and claims that because of the geology and project design, they have eliminated the risk for acid rock drainage. The mine would be an underground mine rather than open pit.

The mine would be located near Birch Lake and the South Kawishiwi River in the Rainy River watershed—and the primary concern is the way that water flows in that watershed and where the project would be placed relative to it (Save the Boundary Waters, 2026). The Laurentian Divide runs through northern Minnesota and serves as a geographic boundary between surface watersheds (Pearson et al., 2022). Surface water north of the Laurentian flows to Hudson Bay, and the water south of it eventually flows to either the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean. Sulfide ores contain sulfur-bearing minerals that produce sulfuric acid when exposed to air and water (Willms, 2026). Mining operations would cause acid mine drainage that would flow directly into the BWCAW and the border waters between the U.S. and Canada. Defined by interconnected lakes, the Boundary Waters is vulnerable to water pollution — pollutants do not remain isolated, they move, ensuring contamination in one place will affect water miles away (Willms, 2026).

A decade of political whiplash

The Boundary Waters has been contested for decades, but the conflict over Twin Metals has been subject to political whiplash over the last decade. The conflict began in 1966 when the BLM issued two federal preference right mineral leases to the International Nickel Company, covering roughly 5,000 acres of the Superior National Forest adjacent to the BWCAW. The 1978 Boundary Waters Wilderness Act banned mining within the BWCAW and established a 220,000-acre Mining Protection Zone along entry corridors. The leases were renewed in 1989 and 2004, but in 2016 the Obama administration denied a third renewal citing unacceptable environmental risk to the watershed. The first Trump administration reversed course, renewing the leases in 2019. The Biden administration then canceled the leases in 2022 and issued a 20-year mineral withdrawal protecting 225,504 acres in 2023. Most recently, the current Trump administration submitted that withdrawal to Congress under the CRA, and the House passed H.J. Res. 140 on January 21, 2026 by a 214-208 vote with a Senate vote imminent.

Subscribe now

The competing arguments

Competing commodity and non-commodity values on public lands are at the center of the Twin Metals conflict—a tension rooted in the multiple-use framework established by MUSYA and FLPMA. Proponents argue the mine would provide economic stability to the Ely region, which has never fully benefited from the area's tourism economy, and would contribute to domestic critical mineral independence, particularly at a time of geopolitical competition (PBS, 2019). The Duluth Complex contains 95% of the country's known nickel resources, 88% of cobalt, and 75% of platinum group metals—reserves carrying significant national security implications. However, the resource independence argument is complicated by the fact that the U.S. lacks the resources required for domestic smelting of nickel and cobalt. This means that extracted minerals would likely need to be exported for processing and bought back, undermining the self-sufficiency rationale—a concern reinforced by the fact that Antofagasta, Twin Metals' parent company, has existing agreements to process copper at Chinese smelters (Donnelly & Chakrabarti, 2026). A 2020 Harvard economics study found that in 89% of projected scenarios, a recreation-based economy would generate more jobs and income than a mining-based one, further complicating the local economy argument (Stock & Bradt, 2020).

The other side of the debate represents a broad coalition of environmental groups, recreation businesses, and Indigenous nations. The Ojibwe's treaty rights to hunt, fish, and gather would be directly threatened by sulfide-ore mining contamination of their food and water sources. Two former superintendents of Voyageurs National Park, which lies downstream, stated this week that contamination from the mine would inevitably reach the park's waters, ecosystems, and fisheries—and that once these waters are polluted, they cannot be fully restored. Ultimately, this is a conflict between special interests seeking commodity extraction and the common interest in protecting an irreplaceable public resource for future generations.

What’s happening right now

The current administration has used an aggressive set of tools to advance mining development near the Boundary Waters. At the executive level, several orders have prioritized domestic mineral production—including Unleashing American Energy and Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production—which direct federal agencies to streamline permitting and reduce regulatory barriers for critical mineral projects. At the agency level, the Interior Department reinstated Twin Metals’ lease renewal in August 2025, and the administration submitted the Biden-era mineral withdrawal to Congress to initiate the CRA review process—allowing them to bypass the NEPA review process that would otherwise apply. Legislative tools including the Critical Mineral Dominance Act (H.R. 4090) and the FY 2026 Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill reflect Congressional support for increased domestic mineral development.

As of April 15, time has been held on the Senate floor for the vote—meaning it could happen at any moment. The resolution requires only a simple majority to pass and cannot be filibustered. The window for the Senate to act under the CRA closes at the end of April.

What needs to happen and why it matters beyond Minnesota

Litigation is the most immediate lever opponents can use. Environmental groups can challenge lease reinstatements and CRA proceedings under the Clean Water Act and the Wilderness Act, and tribal nations can invoke treaty consultation requirements to slow or complicate the permitting process. At the state level, the Minnesota DNR retains authority to deny Twin Metals’ state permit to mine, and the state legislature could pass permanent protection legislation for the Boundary Waters.

If H.J. Res. 140 passes the Senate and is signed by Trump, it would bar any future administration from issuing a substantially similar mineral withdrawal without new Congressional authorization—taking away not just the protection, but the ability of any future administration to put similar ones in place. Ely residents who support the project, including younger community members, are driven by genuine economic anxiety—and they are being presented with a solution. That local context matters. But the fact that the CRA has never been used to overturn a mineral withdrawal, and that its success here would permanently prevent future administrations from issuing similar protections without Congressional approval, makes clear that this is no longer just a fight about one mine in Minnesota. It is a test of whether established public lands protections can be quietly dismantled by Congress, setting a dangerous precedent for every landscape across the country.

What you can do

Contact your U.S. Senators today and urge them to vote no on H.J. Res. 140. You can reach the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Even if you don't live in Minnesota, this vote affects public lands protections across the entire country. Find more ways to take action at Save the Boundary Waters.

If you’ve been following this series, you already know that BLM lands and other federal public lands are managed under a complex web of mandates, agencies, and competing uses. The San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado are a good example of how that complexity plays out on the ground. The BLM’s Tres Rios Field Office manages more than 600,000 acres of public land and over 2.6 million acres of federal mineral estate (subsurface mineral rights owned by US and managed primarily by BLM), covering terrain that stretches from the Dolores River Canyon to the San Juans. This land supports grazing, energy development, recreation, wildlife habitat, and cultural resources—simultaneously under the multiple-use mandate we covered in A Beginner’s Guide to BLM Lands. But what happens when a natural disaster stress-tests that system in real time? The 2026 snow drought in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains offers a clear and sobering answer.

As of early April 2026, the San Miguel-Dolores-Animas-San Juan River Basin — the headwaters of some of the most important river systems in the American Southwest — was at just 19.5% of median snowpack. Colorado is experiencing its lowest snowpack levels since record-keeping began in 1941. This isn’t just a bad ski season. It’s a governance crisis playing out across millions of acres of public land.

What’s happening on the ground

In Durango, outfitters on the Animas River are already adapting. RiverTrippers began running trips earlier than usual this season, switching to smaller boats suited for low flows and reframing the experience for families rather than whitewater enthusiasts. It’s a good example of the kind of ground-level adaptability that local businesses have developed out of necessity — but it also illustrates a broader point: the people with the most on-the-ground knowledge are often the ones with the least formal influence over the decisions that affect them.

Further south, Navajo Reservoir is currently sitting about 60% full — roughly 50 feet below full pool. The reservoir is a critical upstream control point for the Colorado River Basin, and its drawdown is already limiting boating and camping access. For gateway communities like Durango and Pagosa Springs, the economic ripple effect is significant. Low snowpack conditions can trigger decreased visitation, hotel cancellations, and reduced retail sales — hitting small businesses that have limited reserves to weather a slow season. Ecologically, low snowpack accelerates wildfire risk and drought-related erosion, both of which can force recreation closures and compound an already difficult management situation.

Who makes decisions and when

In March 2026, Governor Polis activated Colorado’s Drought Task Force through the Department of Natural Resources — a state-level body that brings agencies together to share data and coordinate responses. It sounds like a reasonable system. The problem is that record warm temperatures and below-normal precipitation had been driving snowpack to record lows since October 2025. The state was responding to a crisis that had been building for five months.

This reactive pattern is one of the central challenges of drought management — and it’s fundamentally different from managing a wildfire or a flood. Wildfires and floods are sudden. Drought is slow-moving, which makes it politically difficult to mobilize a response before conditions become severe. By the time the Drought Task Force is activated, outfitters have already adjusted their schedules, ranchers are already rationing water, and tribal communities are already operating on a fraction of their allocated supply.

At the federal level, agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and BLM manage the public lands of the San Juan Mountains, while the Bureau of Reclamation operates the infrastructure — including Navajo Dam — that controls how water moves through the system. These agencies operate under different mandates, on different timelines, with different chains of command. The Colorado Drought Task Force can coordinate state agencies, but it cannot direct federal water management decisions. That gap between the body that coordinates and the body that actually controls the water is where drought response most often breaks down.

Give a gift subscription

Who is missing from the conversation

Even where coordination exists, key voices are frequently absent.

Outfitters and small recreation businesses — the people with the most real-time knowledge of how drought is affecting visitor experience — often have no formal seat at the planning table. The same is true for tribal nations with legally recognized water rights in the basin.

The Ute Mountain Ute Farm and Ranch Enterprise, for example, plans to operate on just 10% of its allocated Colorado River water this summer due to low snowpack. Tribal water rights in the Colorado River Basin are among the oldest and most senior in the system — yet tribal nations are frequently excluded from formal drought planning processes. Given that many tribal water rights claims in the basin remain unquantified and unsettled, making decisions without tribal input doesn’t just create a governance gap — it perpetuates an inequitable system where those most affected have the least influence.

Adding to the coordination challenge, research from the National Integrated Drought Information System found that outfitters and recreation businesses report drought monitoring resources are scattered across multiple agencies and platforms, making it difficult to get timely, actionable information. In some areas, this gap is being filled by nonprofits rather than government agencies — a sign of how much informal coordination is carrying the weight that formal systems aren’t.

What needs to change

Three gaps stand out as most urgent. The first is the information gap. A consolidated drought forecasting dashboard managed at the state level with input from recreation businesses, tribal nations, and local governments. It would give decision-makers and affected communities access to the same information at the same time. Right now that doesn’t exist in any meaningful way.

The second is the reactive posture of the current system. Quarterly proactive Drought Task Force meetings with early stakeholder notification would allow businesses to make procurement decisions, staffing plans, and trip scheduling adjustments before conditions become critical rather than after. Early warning and proactive preparation are essential for communities to build resilience — but the current framework consistently lags behind the conditions it’s meant to address.

The third is tribal inclusion. Permanent tribal representation in drought planning processes isn’t just good governance — it’s a legal and ethical necessity given the scope of tribal water rights in the Colorado River Basin. Drought decisions made without tribal input are decisions made without the full picture.

Why this matters for public lands

The 2026 San Juan drought is not an isolated event, it’s a preview of what public lands management looks like as drought becomes a permanent feature of western landscapes rather than a periodic disruption. The BLM, USFS, and Bureau of Reclamation were built for a different climate. Their mandates, planning cycles, and coordination structures were not designed for the pace of change that land managers are now facing.

Understanding how these systems work, and where they break down, is part of what it means to be an informed public lands citizen.

How is BLM land actually managed?

The day-to-day management of BLM land flows from a single governing document: the Resource Management Plan, or RMP. RMPs serve as blueprints to keep public landscapes healthy and productive, guiding how the BLM manages a specific area of public land over a period of typically 20 years. The RMP defines what activities are permitted, restricted, or prohibited in a given area — covering everything from where energy leasing is allowed to how off-highway vehicle use is designated to what areas are set aside for conservation.

RMPs are generally developed at the field office or district office level, prepared by an interdisciplinary team under the direction of a field or district manager. State Directors provide oversight and approve the final plan. The BLM operates through a network of state, district, and field offices spread primarily across the western states, with each field office responsible for the land within its boundaries.

Public input is a required and significant part of the process. RMPs take about three years to complete and involve continuous opportunities for public involvement—including public comment periods, in-person meetings, and formal cooperating agency relationships with local governments and tribes. The Rock Springs Field Office RMP in Wyoming is an example: the BLM received more than 35,000 public comments and incorporated recommendations from a Governor-appointed task force before finalizing the plan in 2024.

It’s worth noting that RMPs are not permanent — they are periodically evaluated and revised as conditions, priorities, and public needs change. And as covered in the previous section, they can now also be overturned by Congress, which adds a new layer of uncertainty to a process that communities and industries have long relied on for stability.

What happens on BLM land

The range of activities that take place on BLM land is broader than most people realize — and understanding that range is key to understanding why these lands are so frequently at the center of policy debates. “Multiple use” isn’t just a legal phrase; it’s a description of what actually happens on the ground, often simultaneously.

On the extraction side, there are more than 89,000 oil and gas wells connected to 23,500 oil and gas leases on BLM lands, covering approximately 23 million federal acres and making up 11% of all oil and 9% of all natural gas produced in the US. The BLM manages livestock grazing on nearly 155 million acres under the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934, with more than 18,000 permits and leases granted to ranchers. Coal, hardrock minerals, timber, and renewable energy — solar, wind, and geothermal — round out the extractive and commercial uses.

BLM land supports a large range of activities — hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, off-highway vehicle use, rock climbing, mountain biking, and rockhounding among them. Unlike national parks, most BLM land allows dispersed camping, meaning you can camp outside of a designated campground, typically for free and for up to 14 consecutive days in one location.

The economic footprint of all this activity is significant. Activities authorized on BLM public lands generated $245.4 billion in total economic output in fiscal year 2024, supporting 884,000 total jobs and contributing substantial revenue to the U.S. Treasury and state governments.

What makes BLM land complex is that these uses don’t always occupy separate parcels — except in areas specifically set aside for conservation purposes, the BLM must multitask to manage the myriad land uses, some of which may appear to conflict with other uses or resources. A rancher grazing cattle, an energy company drilling for oil, a hunter looking for elk, and a mountain biker on a trail can all be operating on overlapping stretches of the same BLM landscape. This is precisely what makes the RMP process so consequential, and so contested.

Special designations within BLM

Within its 245 million acres, the BLM manages a subset of lands that carry special designations that require additional protection or management attention. These fall into two broad categories: those established by Congress or the President as part of the National Conservation Lands, and those managed through the BLM’s land-use planning process as Special Planning Designations.

National Conservation Lands - Designated by Congress or the President

The National Conservation Lands includes 906 units covering over 38 million acres — about 15% of all BLM-managed land. The designations within this system include about 15% of all BLM-managed land. This means 85% of BLM land remains open to the broader multiple-use framework. The designations within this system include:

National Monuments – designated by the President under the Antiquities Act or by Congress to protect objects of historic or scientific interest. The BLM manages 31 national monuments in nine western states.

National Conservation Areas (NCAs) – congressionally designated areas managed to conserve specific natural, cultural, or scenic resources.

Wild and Scenic Rivers – designated by Congress to preserve free-flowing rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, or recreational values. The BLM manages 81 designated wild and scenic rivers (WSRs) totaling nearly 2,700 miles.

National Scenic and Historic Trails – congressionally designated trails protecting natural and cultural heritage. The BLM manages nearly 6,000 miles of 19 designated trails across 15 states, including the Pacific Crest Trail, portions of the Oregon Trail, and the Iditarod National Historic Trail.

Special Planning Designations – Managed Through the RMP Process

These designations are created and administered through the land use planning process. They carry real protections but can be revised through future RMPs — which is part of why the planning process is so consequential.

Wilderness Areas — the most protected designation, where motorized vehicles and mechanized equipment are prohibited. Wilderness areas are held in stewardship by both the USDA and DOI by each of the four major federal land management agencies.

Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs)— areas identified as potentially qualifying for wilderness designation, managed protectively until Congress makes a final determination. There are currently 487 WSAs totaling over 11 million acres.

Special Recreation Management Areas (SRMAs) – provide specific recreational opportunities, such as trailhead areas for hikers, mountain bikers or off-road vehicle users.

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) – designations unique to the BLM and highlight areas where special management attention is needed to protect important historical, cultural, and scenic values, or fish and wildlife or other natural resources. ACECs can only be designated during the land-use planning process.

In other words, BLM land isn’t a single category. The same agency that issues oil and gas leases also manages Wilderness Areas where you can’t bring a motorized vehicle—all under the same multiple-use mandate.

Why it matters

BLM land is public land. The decisions made about how these 245 million acres are managed have real consequences: for local economies, wildlife habitat, water resources, recreation access, and for the communities that live alongside these landscapes.

So why is it so important to understand right now?

The rules governing BLM land are actively being rewritten. Two developments from the past year illustrate exactly why this matters right now. The first is the rescission of the BLM’s Public Lands Rule — a 2024 policy that formally recognized conservation as a legitimate use of public land alongside grazing, energy development, and recreation. The Trump administration moved to eliminate it in 2025, arguing it prioritized conservation at the expense of the multiple-use mandate. The debate cuts to the heart of a question that has defined BLM management since FLPMA: what does “multiple use” actually require, and who decides? The second is the proposed sale of BLM and Forest Service lands — a proposal floated in Congress in 2025 that would have transferred millions of acres of federal public land into private ownership. Though it did not pass, it signaled an appetite for fundamental changes to the public ownership model that has defined these lands since 1976.

Because the RMP (resource management plan) process requires public input, these are not decisions made behind closed doors. YOU, as a member of the public can weigh in, and it’s critical that you do so. Public lands literacy is the first step towards public lands participation. Understand the policy, follow the debates, or at the very least, know what you’re standing on the next time you camp, hike, or hunt.

More than Just Parks launched the Threatened Lands Map where you’ll see what’s being proposed, who’s behind it, which agency is involved, how urgent the threat is, source links to the underlying documents, and a call script with action items so you can do something about it right away.

What is the BLM

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is one of four primary land management agencies in the US. It sits within the Department of the Interior (DOI), alongside the National Park Service (NPS), and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The BLM was established in 1946 through the merger of the General Land Office and the Grazing Service.

In order to understand what the BLM actually does, you have to understand the law that defines it. Before 1976, the BLM was operating under a patchwork of outdated, often conflicting statues with no unified direction. Growing concerns over mismanagement and degradation of public lands—vandalism, overuse, destruction of natural resources—pushed congress to respond resulting in Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA).

FLPMA reversed more than 160 years of federal practice that had focused on transferring public land into private hands—through homesteading, land sales, and development grants—declaring that public lands would remain in federal ownership for the benefit of all Americans—we will revisit this.

This gave the BLM a unified mandate resting on two principles: multiple use and sustained yield. The term “multiple use” is defined in the law as managing public lands so that they are used “in combination that will best meet the present and future needs of the American people” (Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 1976). This means that a piece of BLM land would simultaneously support cattle grazing, oil and gas extraction, recreational use, renewable energy development, and wildlife. The second principle is sustained yield which requires that this mix of uses be managed so that the land remains productive over the long-term. Together, these two principles reflect the BLM’s mission to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

That tension is playing out right now. In 2025, Congress used the Congressional Review Act (CRA)—previously never applied to land management plans—to overturn BLM resource management plans in Montana, North Dakota, and Alaska. The North Dakota plan had restricted coal and oil leasing on millions of federally managed acres; its repeal marked the first time in history that Congress had directly nullified a BLM land use plan. Because the CRA bars agencies from issuing “substantially the same” rule in the future, the move didn’t just reverse one plan — it may permanently foreclose similar management approaches in those areas without new legislation.

Subscribe now

How much land and where is it

So how much land is there? The agency manages approximately 245 million acres of surface land and holds subsurface mineral rights on an additional 700 million acres. To put that in context, it’s more land than the entire state of Alaska, and while Alaska might look small on a map, it is most certainly not.

Almost all of BLM land is in the West and concentrated in twelve states. In Nevada, the BLM manages nearly 48 million acres (more than half the state), with Utah and Idaho close behind.

You can see all BLM managed surface lands on this interactive map.

Why so much in the west?

Well, it comes back to how the country was settled. On the East Coast nearly all land passed out of federal ownership before the BLM existed—through land grants, treaty arrangements, and the Homestead Acts of the 19^th century. By the time the federal government shifted to retaining public land instead of getting rid of it, there was just very little left. This is why the conversation of outdoor access on the East Coast has traditionally been more centered around private land. The West, however, was still being settled when that policy shift happened.

During the 19th century, the federal government encouraged private settlement of public land through the Homestead Acts. The lands that eventually became BLM holdings were largely the parcels that homesteaders passed over — too arid, too remote, or too rugged to farm. Rather than sell them off, the government retained ownership, and those leftovers eventually accumulated into the largest land management portfolio in the country.

How is BLM land different from other public lands

As covered in our intro to public lands, federal land management agencies sit along a spectrum — from strict conservation to active resource extraction. Understanding where BLM lands fall on that spectrum requires a quick comparison with the two agencies it is most often confused with: the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service.

The NPS sits at the conservation end where national parks are managed to keep landscapes unimpaired for future generations. The emphasis is on preservation and visitor experience, which is why national parks have entrance fees, paved roads, maintained trails, and ranger stations.

The USFS is in a middle position, managed for multiple uses including timber, grazing, water conservation, wildlife habitat, and recreation. However, the emphasis leans toward resource management within forested landscapes. For example, the Boundary Waters (BWCAW) is managed by the USFS under the USDA, but the debate over sulfide-ore copper mining on adjacent federal lands has involved both the USFS and the BLM (even where USFS manages the surface, the BLM controls the federal mineral leasing process underneath it). This splint between surface rights and subsurface rights is one of the less visible but most consequential aspects of how of how BLM’s authority works in practice.

The BLM sits furthest toward the multiple-use, extractive end of the spectrum. BLM lands generally offer a wider variety of permitted uses than National Parks or National Wildlife Refuges. There are generally fewer fees, less infrastructure, and less regulation than you’d find in a national park or even a national forest.

BLM holdings are often fragmented, patchwork parcels spread across vast landscapes which is part of why they’re harder to recognize and pick out than a national park.

Closing thoughts

BLM lands are a foundational piece of America’s public lands system—and yet for many people, they remain largely unfamiliar. Understanding what the BLM is, where its authority comes from, how much land it manages, and how it differs from the agencies you may already know is the starting point for understanding some of the most consequential land use debates happening in the country right now. Whether you’ve camped on BLM land without knowing it, or you’re encountering the agency for the first time through a news headline, the basics covered here are the foundation everything else builds on.

Next week we’ll dive into how BLM land is actually managed day to day, what happens on it, the special designations that exist within it, and why all of it matters, especially right now.

Share

Subscribe now

March is my favorite month of the year. It’s the beginning of Spring. Flowers are blooming, there are little ducklings and baby rabbits exploring. Green pops up nearly everywhere, and St. Patricks Day emphasizes the spring bliss with clovers and luck seems to pollinate everywhere! It may also help that it’s my birthday month. But to me, that’s just a bonus.

Butterflies make their debut for early spring activity, each one like a little miracle fluttering around, symbols of hope and transformation. Have you heard of the butterfly effect? It is the idea that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly wing can start a ripple effect to cause a tsunami on the other side of the world. A tiny transfer of energy, making a humongous impact. This month, Women’s History Month, exemplifies the same concept. So, I thought it would be fun to highlight some impactful women in sustainability - past and present.

Read on to learn about a few women who have changed history, and for a special list of women-owned businesses in the outdoor industry!

5 Noteworthy Women in Sustainability

There really are so many women who deserve a spotlight for the work they have done in sustainability and nature preservation. It’s hard to pick favorites, so I sort of picked 5 women at random to include here and would love to hear about any notable ones you may have!

1. Rachel Carson

Renowned biologist and author, Rachel Carson observed the effects that DDT, a commonly used pesticide, on insects and birds. She was an early challenger to the over-use of pesticides in our food systems. Her work ultimately inspired environmentalists to press Congress into passing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that required federal agencies to evaluate the environmental impact of their actions, and President Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce it. To learn a little more about her work and impact, watch this short video.

“In every outthrust headland, in every curving beach, in every grain of sand there is the story of the earth.” — Rachel Carson

2. Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai has made waves in history, being the “first female professor in her home country, the first female scholar from East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate in biology, and the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, which she received for her vast contributions to sustainable development” (Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation). Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, which has since planted over 51 million trees in Kenya! I included several quotes from her because I could not choose a favorite — her words are powerful.

“Education, if it means anything, should not take people away from the land, but instill in them even more respect for it, because educated people are in a position to understand what is being lost. The future of the planet concerns all of us, and all of us should do what we can to protect it. As I told the foresters, and the women, you don't need a diploma to plant a tree.” — Wangari Maathai

“The generation that destroys the environment is not the generation that pays the price. That is the problem.” — Wangari Maathai

3. Jane Goodall

We’ve all heard of the legendary Jane Goodall. She journeyed to Tanzania in 1960 and dove into the little known world of chimpanzees. In her work, she expanded the definition of conservation to include the local communities and environments around the animals we save. Jane Goodall spent her entire life traveling the globe and speaking about the interconnectedness between humans, animals and nature, inspiring people to take action to help the environment that we all share. Her work continues to make a global impact on building a harmonious relationship between people and nature — expanding from the protection of chimpanzees to improving health for women and education for girls, and building up the next generation of conservationists.

“When you live in the forest, it’s easy to see that everything’s connected.” — Dr. Jane Goodall

4. Leah Thomas

I was lucky enough to take a course through the University of Colorado Boulder about inclusivity and belonging in the outdoor recreation economy. In this class we read The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas, and I was hooked to her work. Leah is a next-gen leader in social justice and sustainability — creating awareness of the overlap between environmentalism and discrimination, and how in order to protect the planet we must protect its people. She is an author, speaker, producer, and activist, having established multiple innovative programs through Green Girl Productions and her nonprofit, Intersectional Environmentalist. You can learn more about her work and continuous impact at https://www.leahthomas.com/ and https://www.greengirlcrafts.com/.

5. Sylvia Earle

One of her most powerful contributions is founding Mission Blue, which created the concept of “Hope Spots.” These are special places in the ocean identified as critical to the health of marine ecosystems. She helped shift global thinking from “the ocean is too big to harm” to “the ocean needs protection now.” Earle helped the world understand that protecting the ocean is protecting life on Earth. Her work connects directly to the kinds of experiences your community shares—whether it’s paddling, diving, or simply enjoying the coast. Because every time someone falls in love with the ocean, they’re more likely to protect it.

"With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you're connected to the sea. No matter where on Earth you live." — Sylvia Earle

Find Your Female-Founded

To the women building what didn’t exist—and making the outdoors better because of it. Here are a few women-owned brands we’re loving right now.

1. Strong Girl Publishing

This company offers books to young women and girls to help them relate to and envision themselves in sport. The books are written by female athletes to inspire and empower girls to find adventure and be confident. Simply reading Molly Hurford’s mission and story got me pumped to hop on the Strong Girl train and gift these books to every young lady I know.

“Our goal at Strong Girl Publishing is to bring girls and young women into sport and help them thrive. We do this through our fun and inspiring books, including fiction, nonfiction and memoirs that share real stories of young women in sport and the issues they face.” — Molly Hurford, Founder of Strong Girl Publishing

2. Northern Classics

Northern Classics is a premium line of winter outerwear for kids. Combining the technical performance of high-end skiwear with timeless style, Northern Classics is built for adventure and worthy of the memory book. Not only is this line of winter wear super cute and functional, but I love the story behind it! The founder, Kristin Ruud, was inspired to create it as she saw how much getting outside affected her kids’ moods. That same reason is why I joined my mom to create Nature’s Playbook, because providing space for kids (and adults too!) to enjoy nature makes a huge difference in emotions, confidence, development, and so much more. In the case of Northern Classics, the magic is in the snow. ❄️

3. Bert Shoes

“We make pre and post activity shoes for the active life enthusiast. BERT is the other shoe for any activity that requires specialized gear. That one piece you didn’t know you needed. The shoe that gets you to and from doing your favorite sport bringing comfort and practicality to your life. No matter where you are going, or what you are wearing, they always look good.” — Juliana, Founder of Bert Shoes

What I love about Bert’s story is the genuine entrepreneurial journey — what started as a simple idea of a shoe for morning dog walkers expanded into a go-to shoe for athletes before and after they participate in their sport. Also, it was made with a mission to aid the homeless animal problem in Columbia by providing sterilization programs in remote areas.

4. trekALLa

TrekALLa is a women’s size inclusive outdoor apparel brand. Every design is made in sizes XS-6X in their Florida microfactory, and with eco-friendly and sustainable material. Inclusivity and sustainability are truly at the heart of trekALLa, and Alisa Otto, the founder, is one of the most genuine and hard working people I know! She started the company by sewing the majority of the products herself, and just opened a store front in Cocoa Village, FL where she also hosts sewing classes and workshops in sustainable fashion!

5. Town Hall Co.

Town Hall is a women-led, family-founded outdoor apparel brand creating gear specifically designed for kids—not just scaled-down adult versions. Born in a mountain town and built by parents who saw a gap in the industry, their mission is simple: help kids stay outside longer and truly fall in love with it. With thoughtful, kid-tested design, a strong community focus, and a commitment to sustainability, Town Hall is building gear families trust—and a future where more kids grow up connected to the outdoors.

6. Symbiosis Gear

Symbiosis Gear was born from a very real trail frustration: backpacks just weren’t built for women’s bodies. After thousands of miles of “making it work,” founder Sarah Berkeley decided that wasn’t good enough—and built something better. Their gear is designed specifically for people with boobs (finally), eliminating things like “boob squish” and awkward fit so you can actually move freely and comfortably. We got the chance to meet Sarah at the Outside Festival in Denver, CO last year. Sarah included not just her own gear, but also displayed and promoted other women owned products, enforcing the symbiotic relationship she strives for between community and the outdoors.

7. WrovenDen

WrovenDen is a 6 lb all-in-one toddler travel tent that folds into a carry-on, sets up in minutes, and gives kids ages 15 months to 6 years a familiar place to sleep anywhere you go. The idea is to bring adventure and ease to traveling families. All I can say is I wish I had one of these when we were on the go!

8. Gear Envie

Gear Envie is mother-daughter founded company (woohoo!) that makes Hikas, gaiters re-designed for today’s adventures. Wear them hiking, biking, snow shoeing, camping, and more. Once you have them you’ll think of a million ways to keep wearing them! What started as a personal need turned into a thoughtful redesign of the everyday gaiter. These Hikas are equal parts functional and fun—keeping out dirt, debris, and snow while actually feeling good to wear, plus they are super cool looking! Use Code: GIRLSRULE20 for 20% off now through March 31.

9. Sol Sister Sport

Sol Sister Sport is 100% women owned Athleisure Brand focused on Two-in-one Skirted Leggings perfect for tennis, pickleball, hiking, yoga, errands, golf and more! It was created from a simple (and very relatable) realization: women needed activewear that could actually keep up with real life. Founded by Tina Jennings, a mom of five who wanted more time on the court, more comfort, and more freedom, the brand’s signature skirted leggings are designed to move seamlessly from tennis or trail to errands and everything in between. Equal parts functional and flattering, Sol Sister is about more than what you wear—it’s about feeling confident, capable, and completely yourself in every part of your day.

10. CurvedWear

CurvedWear is redefining what it means for outdoor apparel to truly fit. Designed specifically for curvy, mid-size, and plus-size women, their pieces are thoughtfully cut for real bodies and real movement—not just scaled-up versions of standard sizing. Made in the U.S. with a commitment to sustainability, the brand goes a step further by giving back to organizations that empower women and girls to run for office. Because feeling good in your gear is just the beginning.

11. Snowshoe Leather Care

Snowshoe Leather Care is a nearly 100-year-old heritage brand from Bend, Oregon, built on a simple belief: the things we love should last. Creating leather conditioners that protect, restore, and extend the life of leather goods, Snowshoe helps keep boots, bags, belts, saddles, tack and leather gear looking their best for years to come. Fourth generation owner Tiffany Huey has re-founded the company to restore it to its former glory, with the intention of letting each piece of leather it touches continue to share its unique story.

“I’m proud to carry forward a tradition of appreciation, determination, devotion, and heritage—creating products that not only protect leather but enrich the journeys it reflects.” — Tiffany Huey, CEO & Re-Founder of Snowshoe Leather Care

12. DTOCS

Dtocs is a sustainable tableware brand that offers compostable single use tableware made from naturally shed palm leaves. Inspired by her childhood upbringing in India, mompreneur Pallavi Pande combines functionality with sustainability to bring a unique a beautiful product to the table. I have actually put these plates to the test for a birthday beach picnic and I must say I loved the natural look and convenience! Use coupon code, DTOCS20 for 20% off and Free shipping!

13. Neve

Neve (pronounced ne-vay) was born out of long days in the mountains—and the simple realization that fueling those adventures shouldn’t be so hard. Founder Nora Fierman combined her love for food and feeding her friends with her passion for being outside. She grew up outdoors, eventually becoming an endurance athlete, and found it difficult to find on the go food as a vegetarian. What began as a personal need turned into an idea—a better way to fuel, built for athletes, using real ingredients in a format that actually made sense mid-adventure. After years of testing, setbacks, and persistence, Neve came to life in Vail, Colorado as a plant-based, smoothie-style pouch designed for movement.

14. Bowl & Kettle

How would I describe Bowl & Kettle? Unbelievable tasty freeze dried food made from total bosses. After completing the Pacific Crest Trail, Sarah and Brett Bowlin started experimenting with freeze dried meals, transforming some of their favorite dishes to be on the go and trail ready. Not only are their flavors off the charts, but their personalities are even more worth supporting. We have gotten to work with Sarah a few times in the last year or so in multiple collaborations including one of the Nature’s Playbook SeedStakes, and we couldn’t speak more highly of the team! Sarah always goes above and beyond and honestly, she just gives BFF vibes in a totally authentic and outdoorsy way. Needless to say, you gotta give Bowl & Kettle a try! I heard they are even launching a new flavor so the hype is real.

So there you have it. Fourteen epic female founded and owned companies that you can keep in your pocket for every occasion this year. If you have a favorite women owned company you’d like to share, we are all ears! Or eyes, since we’ll be reading it in the comments ;) Cheers to women changing the world!

Before I wrap up here, I wanted to invite you to our book club with Nature’s Playbook. We read books relative to and/or inspired by nature to drive discussion, and then we share experiences based on the book in The Atlas community on NP.

We are diving into our third book, and in honor of Women’s History Month we picked a classic — Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. Stay tuned for a date — we will probably meet next in early June but hold a copy on Libby now or pick one up from your local bookstore to jump in!

Yours truly,

PJ

What is Skijoring?

Well, it depends who you ask. In the U.S., at the most basic level, skijoring is the act of being pulled behind an animal or vehicle on skis (usually a horse). The rider pulls a skier behind them from a rope attached to the horse’s saddle. The course is a combination of skier cross, a slalom course, and obstacle course with turns and jumps. The goal is to get through the course as fast as possible without missing gates, jumps, or missing or dropping the baton or any of the rings. Miss any of these and you’ll get a 5 second penalty added to your time.

Races can use whatever divisions they choose but typically there is Open/Pro, Sport, Novice, Youth, Century, Snowboard, Women’s and Switcheroo (according to the Skijor USA website).

A Very Short History of Skijoring

Skijoring comes from the Norwegian skikjøring which translates to ski driving. The sport gained recognition in the 1800s in places like Switzerland and France before appearing in the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz as a demonstration event.

In Norway, the Sámi and other peoples used this as a form of transportation, often with a sled towed behind a reindeer or horse for travel through snowy Nordic regions. In the early 19th century, Scandinavian immigrants brought the idea to North American and incorporated influences from dogsledding. Since then, the activity has evolved making it the sport it is today.

While not a ton is written on the history of the sport or how it officially came to the U.S., the popular story is that Tom Schroeder and Mugs Ossman are the two men behind the sport.

In 1949 the two men were discussing the event list for the upcoming winter festivities in Leadville, CO. Their task was to come up with something new to add to the list, so seeking inspiration they went to the Steamboat Springs winter carnival. It was there that they first witnessed the sport and what inspired their version.

If you want to learn more about the different variations and history of skijoring you can read more here.

Ever since I learned about skijoring a few years ago I’ve wanted to see it. Lucky me when I heard Telluride might have an exhibition showing for the first time this year. When they approved it, I was over the moon. Being able to see the work that goes into setting up an event like this was so cool. From carting snow in to laying the track, it’s a multi-day setup.

I missed the novice and youth groups but made it in time for the pros. It felt like a scene out of a western. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, the street was crowded, and the wind swept dirt into everyone’s faces. It was perfect.

I’ve seen a decent number of skijoring videos on instagram, (some accounts to check out Jim Ryan, Madison Ostergren, proskijor, and Saddlesandskis) none truly capture just how fast these riders and skiers are going. Since this was a demonstration, the track was a bit shorter and had fewer obstacles. So instead of a roughly 15 second run it was cut down to 6 seconds. Those 6 seconds may have been some of the most exhilarating in my life. I was standing towards the end of the track so really only got to see the final jump which only a few skiers completed. But when they did…it was epic.

I’m not sure how true this is for all courses, but in the case of Telluride, they created a separate track for the horses laying down some sort of rubber and dirt. The skier’s track stops about 50ft before the horses, while the horse track continues a bit longer for them to run off.

I don’t think people realize the skill it takes to compete in this sport. Not only do you need to be a decent skier, you also need to have good coordination to maneuver around the obstacles and know when to drop the rope, all while going 30+mph.

If you want to see more content from the weekend, check out my post in the NP app. If I’ve sparked some interest and you want to see this for yourself next season, follow the schedule here.

Subscribe now

Spring is in the air in Southern California. It may not be official for another week or so but we are seeing it pop up all around us. On freeways, backyards, mountain, or hillsides, and valleys. If you live here, you know what I’m talking about. The wildflowers. Oh yes! The joy that springs up (pun intended), when seeing bits of yellow, orange, purple, white, and pink turn into carpets that look like a can of paint spilling down and across slopes and beds of the Californian landscape.

Blooms and superblooms become the buzzwords in casual conversations. Exchanging photos and social media posts of what’s blooming and where, are dopamine of the day this time of year. We’re hooked and need to satisfy the urge to witness these pageants of color.

Usually, my yearly wildflower trek takes me to Anza Borrego. A rugged desert floor that transforms into a colorful patchwork quilt in the Spring when rainfall has been decent. Though trust me when I say that even when blooms are sparse it’s worth the trip. Seeing any flowers makes you want to bend down and say, “Hey little guy, look at you! That’s right you just spread your little colorful smile to the world!” Anza Borrego will forever pull at my heart strings!

This past weekend brought Santa Anas to much of Southern California and if you don’t know what Santa Anas are, they are winds that come from the desert and are officially called Santa Ana Winds. It actually has nothing to do with wildflower blooms— although if severe enough, they could potentially damage tender petals and rapidly evaporate soil moisture, accelerating the end of the flowering season. However, the reason I bring it up is because anything that is reminder of the desert is a reminder to get out and see the wildflowers before they disappear so you better start making your plans. If you haven’t witnessed the superblooms, boy are you are in for a treat!

As soon as the tantalizing photos of blooms started trickling in my social media stream, it was time to make my plans and this year I really wanted to visit Carrizo Plain National Monument.

I did not know much about Carrizo Plains and it wasn’t until I read The Enduring Wild by Josh Jackson that I learned that they are part of the BLM (Bureau of Land Management). The book was a great way to be introduced to this area as well as other public lands overseen by the BLM. Josh writes of his experiences and on his first visit during which the Carrizo was experiencing severe drought. He describes, “The entire valley and surrounding hills took on the color of a hay bale.” In 2022 he returned and the transformation left him in disbelief stating, “Soda Lake Road had become a yellow brick road, and I had wandered into the Land of Oz.”

If you’ve ever read something that has moved you and you could take the opportunity to experience it yourself, this was my nudge to seize the moment when the words superblooms are humming in my brain.

It did not take me long to plan my weekend excursion. I knew I might be ahead of the peak, but that would hopefully keep me ahead of the crowds that have been known to flock to superbloom areas and in extreme circumstances they have even closed down, freeways, trails, and shut down parks altogether.

So it’s important to have your strategy. One, try to plan when it’s less likely for crowds to be there. Either plan your visit before peak but when there’s evidence of flowers blooming, or go on a weekday. I usually do the latter.

My husband had given away our tent. And in a moment of half listening, I apparently allowed that to happen. Big mistake. Anyways, I chose a refurbished motel (that to our delight, turned out to be nostalgic and swanky in an old California ambience sort of way) that was an hour and a half away from our destination.

Unbelievably, I didn’t see much in the way of lodging when I was researching. Oddly enough, I think this worked out best! It sort of broke up our trip and we were still able to get up for sunrise and arrive at the end of the long dirt road two minutes before the sun made its way over the Temblor Range.

Early mornings in the desert are chilly, especially this time of year. We were prepared and had dressed in layers.

The light began to illuminate on a dense field of flowers. Yellows and oranges are intertwined with purples, blues, and creamy whites vibrant against a dark blue sky that was turning its own mix of yellows, oranges, and purples as the sun breathed daylight into the firmament. The birds were already awake as they were singing at the top of their lungs. A joyful praise of sorts. We stretched our legs, walked along the dusty road and peered into the mass of blooms in wonderment. Orange and yellow fiddlenecks with their flirty twirls, white creamy lupines, the endangered California jewelflower with its little magenta bells burst at every nook and cranny of my site line.

After about an hour, we came back to the car and drove just a short distance to Wallace Creek. There’s a small dirt parking lot off the small dirt road known as Elkhorn Road. It offered a short trail. Naturally, we had to investigate it. This was fascinating. On top of the San Andreas Fault line a plaque explained how the land shifts every year closer to San Francisco. If you stood in exact spot for 10 million years, you would be in walking distance to the Golden Gate Bridge. Huh? With having no coffee, I was not about to figure that one out. Still, being able to see and experience this famous and mysterious fault line that has had such an impact on the whole state of California was pretty incredible.

Our next step was to Soda Lake which we could see from where we stood at Wallace Creek. The views were vast. In the intense layers of yellow upon yellow upon yellow really did resemble a yellow brick road.

Soda Lake is California’s largest remaining natural alkali wetland, this 3,000-acre shallow lake changes dramatically with the seasons. During dry periods it looks like a brilliant white salt pan, covered in natural mineral deposits, but in winter it fills with water and becomes a peaceful stopover for migrating birds and other desert wildlife. We arrived on the cusp of Spring. The lake still had water, but its edges had started to become crunchy salt patches that looks similar to snow. The flowers in this area had changed to low lying beds of tidy tips, and red-stem filagree intertwined with beds of goldfields and phacelia lacing the valley floor. All the while, the rolling Temblor range flanks the eastern side of the lake with its green grass with yellow and orange cascading down its hillsides. The dramatic Caliente Range sits to the West far enough away that it takes on a dark purple rugged backdrop to the silver blue hue of the lake.

We saw more people congregate to the lake as well as seeing cars having to turn around or being parked on the outskirts because the roads were too muddy for those who do not have an all wheel drive vehicle.

We continued on to Painted Rock. I really wanted to see this place because of the pictographs dating back 4,000 years. These pictographs were painted primarily by the Chumash people believed to come to this horseshoe-like rock for ceremonial purposes. It should also be mentioned that the Salinan and Yokuts made their contributions to these paintings. I hadn’t realized that I needed to secure reservations to be able to go and see this archaeological site and was trying last minute to see if I could purchase them online. However, I discovered that is not possible the day of visit. We went ahead and drove to the welcome center there anyways to see what information they might have. As luck would have it they do have tickets available there on first come first serve basis and we happened to be the last two tickets given out that day. We were instructed not to touch the rock or paintings, as the paintings were already deteriorating and the human touch would only exacerbate the deterioration. Also, we were asked to please not take pictures or videos of the sacred site intended for social media. We could, however photograph them for our personal memories.

Once granted, the gate code was given to us to drive up to the trail and do the self-guided tour. The trail is at most a flat mile to the rock. Lupines of purple, creamy white, and a mix there of they are practically holding hands with the desert fiddleneck as they waved to us in the breeze, happy to see us on our journey. Dainty spring gold biscuit root bright, yellow in color appeared like lace doilies at our feet and the shy magenta owls clover peeked out from underneath.

There were only a few people on the trail and most of them were already heading back to their cars. By the time we got to the Rock, which was 20 minutes at most, we had the place to ourselves. I was surprised at the intense, solemn emotion that was harboring in my chest in what I can only guess was in reverence of the people who once inhabited this place and considered it sacred. Moreover, the fact that the murals in many places had faded greatly but yet some appeared as if 1,000 years were like 10, was an eerie feeling. And they did seem from another world. We studied them for probably 20 minutes before deciding to head back. Bringing my photographs for me to look at and study more at a later date to see if I could make some sort of sense of the stories they were trying to tell.

We got in our car as the last people to leave The Rock that afternoon and drove back across the plains, past Soda Lake, past more varieties of flowers, yellows, purples, whites, oranges, some mingling and others keeping to their varietal colonies. We drove towards the range elated and tired. We decided to stop once more for our long awaited picnic. Since there are very few trees we pulled into a turnout that had several trees along an old wooden fence line. There was ample room for us to park with a view of Soda Lake to the East as we were nestled in the hills with all their pageantry of colors surrounding us. A perfect place for us to sit and have a picnic. My husband took a nap while I turned on my Merlin app since there were so many birds in song or calls- I do not know since they constantly were interrupting each other. As I ate my cookies, my app lit up with one bird appearing after the other as it registered each species. I could hardly keep track and certainly was not familiar with many of them. I took a screen recording so I could go back and learn a little more about those chatty creatures. I got my binoculars to see who was being the loudest, where I was seeing little darts of feathers and their coming and goings. Birds are fascinating. No wonder there are people dedicated to birding.

We packed up our picnic, took a few pictures, and headed back towards our charming hotel. We enjoyed all the switchbacks since it brought view after view of the hillsides. But soon enough, we were out of the range and into what looked like miles and miles of oil rigs. Some working but most not. Seemingly a wasteland of iron dinosaurs. Such a paradigm shift from the Carrizo. From nature to literally extracting nature. As I drive in a car that needs gas that may have come from the ground, where these rigs are drilling and if not from a rig somewhere else.

The Carrizo Plain reminds us that wild beauty exists for all who seek it out and take the time to enjoy it. It reminds us that each season has its purpose. For a few brief weeks each spring, the valley bursts into color, the birds fill the air with song, and the land tells a story that has been unfolding for thousands of years. The flowers will fade, the winds will return, and the hills will turn golden again, but the memory of standing there—surrounded by that fleeting pageant of life—becomes part of your own experience. And perhaps the places that connect us so deeply to nature are also the ones that guide us to protect them and return to them again.

If you’d like to see my post on Nature’s Playbook, it’s a free app where you’ll find not only my experiences in the Carrizo Plain, but also authentic stories from our members who love the outdoors. People share a wide variety of ways they connect with nature. We’ve also started a nature book club called The Atlas, which brings together literature, landscapes, and the ways we care for both.

I will drop in my itinerary if anyone is interested in visiting this remarkable land that is endowed to all Americans.

Carrizo Plain National Monument — One-Day Itinerary (Quick Planning Guide)

This streamlined itinerary focuses on what you need to know to plan your day in Carrizo Plain National Monument—where to stop, how long to allow, and helpful preparation tips.

Carrizo Plain is remote public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), so planning ahead is important.

⸻

One-Day Carrizo Plain Itinerary

1. Sunrise Wildflower Stop (Temblor Range Area)

Location: GPS: 35.2380, -119.8000

Driving Directions: When turning left (east/southeast) onto Elkhorn Road from the northern end near Seven Mile Road / Highway 58, you’ll be traveling southeast toward the intersection with Calhoun Road inside Carrizo Plain National Monument. This road runs along the base of the Temblor Range, making it an excellent area for sunrise views and wildflowers.

Arrival Time: Plan to arrive 30 minutes before sunrise

Typical Wildflowers:

• Desert Fiddleneck

• Lupines

• Goldfields

• Purple Filaree

• California Jewelflower

Important Tips:

• Stay on existing roads or trails. Do not walk into flower fields.

• Follow Leave No Trace Principles to help protect fragile wildflower areas.

• Spring rattlesnake awareness: This habitat supports rattlesnakes. We did not see any, but it’s another reason not to wander off trail.

• Early morning is often quiet and less crowded, with good bird activity.

Good For:

• Sunrise viewing

• Wildflower photography

• Birdwatching

⸻

2. Wallace Creek Trail

Distance: About 1.5 miles round trip

Time Needed: 45–60 minutes

What to Know:

• One of the clearest visible examples of movement along the

  San Andreas Fault

• Mostly flat and easy walking

• Wildflowers often line the trail in spring

• There is very little shade, so bring water even for short hikes.

⸻

3. Soda Lake

Time Needed: 30–45 minutes

What to Expect:

• Seasonal alkaline lake

• Salt crust forms as water evaporates

• Wide valley views

Wildflowers Often Seen:

• Tidy Tips

• Goldfields

• Purple Filaree

The white ground near the lake may look like snow, but it is actually salt left behind as water evaporates.

⸻

4. Painted Rock

Time Needed: 20–30 minutes

Important Notes:

• Ancient Indigenous pictographs estimated 3,000–4,000 years old

• Cultural site used by Chumash and Yokuts peoples

Respect Guidelines:

• Stay on designated paths

• Do not touch the rock art

• Visitors are asked not to share photos of the pictographs on social media

⸻

5. Scenic Picnic Stop

You can find roadside pullouts throughout the plain that make great picnic spots.

Look for:

• Pullouts with a few shade trees

• Views toward Soda Lake or surrounding hills

• Quiet roadside areas

Birdwatching can be excellent here. A helpful tool is the Merlin Bird ID app, which identifies birds by sound.

Common birds in the area include:

• Western Meadowlark

• California Quail

• Loggerhead Shrike

• Red-winged Blackbird

• Common Raven

• Goldfinches

• Sparrows

⸻

Preparation Tips

Vehicle

• 4WD or high-clearance recommended

• Dirt roads can become muddy and rutted after rain

• Some visitors may need to turn around if vehicles cannot pass

Bring

• Plenty of water

• Snacks or picnic lunch

• Hat and sunglasses

• Reef-safe sunscreen

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Layers (mornings can be 40s°F, afternoons 80°F+)

Connectivity

• Cell service is very limited

• Occasionally a few bars appear along main roads

Bathrooms are available at:

• The Carrizo Plain Visitor Center

• The Painted Rock Welcome Center

⸻

Best Time to Visit

Wildflowers: March–April (depends on rainfall)

Bird activity: Early morning and late afternoon

Superblooms happen only in years when winter rain triggers the seed banks stored in the soil, allowing large numbers of wildflowers to bloom at once.

⸻

Helpful Planning Links

BLM Carrizo Plain Information

https://www.blm.gov/visit/carrizo-plain-national-monument

Wildflower Updates

https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/california/carrizo-plain-national-monument

Nature’s Playbook App (free)

https://urlgeni.us/npapp

The Atlas Book Club

The Atlas | Nature’s Playbook

Book, The Enduring Wild by Josh Jackson

https://www.forgottenlandsproject.com/the-book

Merlin Bird ID App

https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Lodging: Cuyama Buckhorn Roadside Resort | High Desert Hideaway, New Cuyama

https://cuyamabuckhorn.com/

Reservation for Painted Rock Tour

Painted Rock Self Guided Tour, Carrizo Plain National Monument Tours - Recreation.gov

This is a recording of our second Nature’s Playbook “The Atlas” Book Club discussion of Eat Like a Fish by Bren Smith. It was such a thoughtful and engaging conversation, and we truly appreciate everyone who took the time to participate, ask questions, and share ideas.

A special thank-you to our guest keynote speaker, Mae Connor, for joining us and generously sharing her expertise. Mae is an Aquatic Biologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers based in the Pacific Northwest. Her work focuses primarily on anadromous salmonids—particularly ESA-listed species—studying their populations, reproduction, and habitat restoration. As someone working closely with these ecosystems in and around Seattle, Mae brought real-world insight to many of the themes discussed in the book.

Our conversation ranged widely—from salmon ecology and regional tribal knowledge to the current realities Mae is seeing in the Pacific Northwest. We discussed common misnomers surrounding farmed fishing, particularly salmon farming, and some of the environmental challenges and trade-offs associated with those systems. The book’s candid and often humorous storytelling style also sparked conversation, as Bren Smith shares his journey in a very honest, fisherman-to-reader voice. Many of us were surprised by what we learned—from the role of kelp and shellfish in improving ocean health to the broader food and environmental implications of regenerative ocean farming. While the book doesn’t shy away from difficult environmental realities, it also offers a hopeful vision for the future of food production and ocean stewardship. We also explored complex topics like hydropower, recognizing that even solutions considered renewable can carry environmental costs if the full chain of cause and effect isn’t fully considered and planned for. Mae’s perspective helped bring these ideas to life in a way that deepened the conversation for all of us.

For those who may be newer to the book, Eat Like a Fish is both a personal story and a hopeful vision for the future of our oceans. Bren Smith shares his journey from commercial fisherman to ocean farmer, pioneering regenerative ocean farming that grows kelp and shellfish while restoring marine ecosystems, creating jobs, and helping feed communities sustainably. It’s a fascinating and inspiring look at how working with nature—rather than against it—can help heal our waters.

We were especially grateful for the thoughtful questions and insights that came from this group. The curiosity and perspective each of you brings is what makes this community so special.

Looking Ahead

If you have a book suggestion for our next Atlas read, we would love to hear it. Please feel free to reply with a title you think would spark meaningful discussion and connect to our shared curiosity about nature, place, and stewardship.

We would also love to see experiences inspired by our recent reads shared on the Nature’s Playbook community page under The Atlas.
If you haven’t yet, consider posting an outdoor experience connected to The Enduring Wild. Over the next couple of months, we’d also love to see experiences connected to Eat Like a Fish.

The idea is simple: share an experience through the lens of what you learned from the book—whether that’s understanding ecosystems differently, noticing the role each species plays, or thinking more deeply about how human choices affect the natural world.

Experience Ideas Inspired by Eat Like a Fish

Coastal Experiences
• Visit a working harbor or fishing dock
• Walk the beach after a tide and observe seaweed washed ashore
• Explore a rocky shoreline tide pool and observe how different species coexist
• Snorkel, kayak, or dive above a kelp forest
• Visit a shoreline where oysters or mussels grow naturally
• Go fishing
• Visit an outdoor fish market

Anywhere Experiences (including landlocked regions)
• Visit a farmers market and talk with growers about soil health
• Explore a community garden and ask about composting or natural fertilizers (including seaweed or kelp if used)
• Visit a garden focused on biodiversity and soil health
• Observe a river, lake, or wetland ecosystem and note the interconnected species
• Participate in or organize a river or lake cleanup
• Visit a water garden and observe how different plants and animals contribute to the ecosystem

Finally, if you’ve enjoyed these conversations and have a friend or family member who might enjoy joining us, please feel free to invite them. We always welcome new voices and perspectives to the group.

Thank you again for being part of this community and for bringing your curiosity, ideas, and passion for the natural world.

Warmly,
Nature’s Playbook
The Atlas Book Club

So don’t worry — as we step into this mini blog, we’re doing it the Nature’s Playbook way.

And that simply means this: connecting with nature daily matters. We need it for our physical and mental health. Nature’s Playbook is also about offering real, authentic experiences and making them accessible through a pay-it-forward mentality — to community, and to being good stewards of the environment.

So let’s get started.

Not long ago, I visited Spokane, Washington — a city I had never been to before. Cities bring a different kind of energy. They buzz with possibility, culture, and discovery. My curiosity to explore and uncover what makes a place unique had me itching to get outside and see it for myself.

I knew absolutely nothing about Spokane. So imagine my surprise and delight when I learned the city is home to one of the largest urban waterfalls in the United States — a defining feature right in the heart of downtown. The Spokane River Falls are spectacular. Powerful, grounding, and unexpectedly wild for a city setting.

Flowing alongside them is the Spokane River Centennial Trail — a 40-mile paved path stretching from Nine Mile Falls, through downtown Spokane, and east to the Idaho border. The trail hugs the river’s edge and seamlessly connects neighborhoods, parks, and communities.

I was there in February. It was cold, with little to no snow on the ground, but the trail was alive. I could easily imagine summer bringing paddleboards, kayaks, and river play. Yet year-round, this space invites movement — walking, biking, running — and I saw people doing all three, many with their dogs happily in tow.

Within a simple two-mile loop, the landscape shifts beautifully. Powerful rapids and thundering falls give way to calm, serene stretches of water. The sound of rushing water is grounding in a way that feels almost instinctual.

Bridges cross the river at multiple points, offering sweeping views where you can feel mist rising from the falls — a sensory reminder that nature is alive and present, even here.

Whenever I encounter defining features like this, I’m naturally drawn to the history behind them.

For generations, the Spokane Tribe knew this river as Stluputqu — “swift water.” The falls were sacred and central to life, serving as a gathering place for families, friends, and neighboring tribes including the Coeur d’Alene and Colville. Here, people fished for Chinook and coho salmon — a primary food source and cultural cornerstone.

By the early 1900s, Spokane expanded alongside railroads, mining, and timber. Seeking sustainable energy for a growing city, local leaders formed the Edison Electric Illuminating Company and built dams along the Spokane River to power mills, streetcars, lighting, and industry. Eventually, the Washington Water Power Company became the region’s primary hydroelectric provider.

But progress came with loss. The construction of Little Falls Dam (1910) and Long Lake Dam (1915), followed by Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in the late 1930s, blocked salmon migration upstream — ending a centuries-old food source and cultural connection.

At the same time, the character of downtown Spokane was shifting. From the 1930s through the early 1970s, the city center became a bustling and dense commercial hub dominated by heavy railroad infrastructure. Industrial warehouses, elevated tracks, and two major rail stations filled the landscape, often obscuring the Spokane River from view. Spokane was known as a “city of trains” — energetic and industrious, yet noisy, congested, and increasingly disconnected from its natural riverfront.

For decades, the river that once defined life and community flowed quietly behind industry, largely hidden from everyday experience.

Then came a pivotal turning point.

With the arrival of the 1974 World’s Fair (Expo ‘74), Spokane transformed its industrial riverfront into a public park, restoring access to the water and gifting the community a lasting legacy: Riverfront Park.

This roughly 100-acre urban oasis is layered with experiences - Spokane Falls, the iconic Gesa Pavilion hosting concerts and festivals, the historic Looff Carrousel, and the Numerica Skate Ribbon with its winding ice path and pond. Open lawns invite picnics, frisbee games, dog walks, and that beautiful moment when kids simply run wild.

It’s a reminder that urban design can bring nature and community back together.

As you wander the two-mile river loop, sculptures appear along pathways and even within the river itself — part of Spokane’s Sculpture Walk. Look here for full guide.

A few stood out to me:

The Garbage Goat, a copper and brass creation by Sister Paula Mary Turnbull — affectionately known as the “welding nun” — literally vacuums up small pieces of trash. Functional art? Yes, please.

The Centennial Sculpture by Harold Balazs offers reflection and permanence.

And The Joy of Running Together by David Govedare captures movement, inclusivity, and shared experience in such a beautiful way.

It feels like an outdoor gallery - art woven naturally into the landscape.

Like any gallery, this one offers places to sit, reflect, and linger. I found myself drawn to the amphitheater-style river steps along the north bank shoreline, directly across from the convention center.

Here, I sat with my book and a cup of coffee, sun warming my face, enjoying the fresh air and the sound of moving water.

Calm invigorating - in the very same breath.

Urban spaces don’t have to separate us from nature. Sometimes they are the bridge back to it. Spokane reminded me that even in the heart of a city, wild elements can shape identity, inspire connection, and create daily opportunities to pause, breathe, and feel grounded.

And maybe that’s the invitation:

Wherever you are — city street or mountain trail - look for the water, the trees, the history, the quiet moments. Nature is often closer than we think.

.

I could write a whole series on Glacier, but for the purpose of this blog post and your short attention spans, I’ll keep it quick to our NP communities top hikes.

A Brief History of the Park

Established in 1910, Glacier National Park protects over a million acres of rugged peaks, alpine meadows, and glacially carved valleys in northern Montana. The land has long been home to the Blackfeet, Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d’Oreille peoples, whose deep cultural connections to these mountains pre-date the park by thousands of years. Often called the “Crown of the Continent,” Glacier sits at the headwaters of multiple major river systems and was shaped by massive glaciers that once covered much of the landscape—many of which, while rapidly receding today, still define the park’s dramatic terrain.

To learn more about the park’s history listen to the official podcast of Glacier National Park, Headwaters. Follow Headwaters on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find your podcasts.

Subscribe now

Grinnell Glacier

Length: ~11mi

Time: 5.5-6hrs

Elevation gain: 2,000ft

Type: out and back

Details: Grinnell Glacier

If there’s one hike that encapsulates Glacier’s scale and grandeur, it’s Grinnell Glacier. Images really don’t do this place justice. Be prepared for a long but incredibly epic day.

Read more

I hope your elf on a shelf survived another week from the family dog, and your Q4 projects are coming to an end. We’ve got a lot to cover, so pour that coffee and keep reading. This week’s deep dive focuses on the impact of low snow years on water storage.

A quick recap of what we learned last week:

• Snow Drought is a period of abnormally low snowpack for …

Read more

This month we’ll be talking about all…

Read more

I think we often forget NYC is a small island. You might be asking why I’m opening this email this way. It’s about perspective. Odds are your mind went straight to a tropical place, and that’s understandable because islands are generally associated with warmer climates. I made a very lo…

Read more

The weeks between Halloween and Thanksgiving in NYC go by both quickly and feel like an eternity. Some …

Read more

Shifting Focus

This past summer I made an effort to view every moment outside as a mini adventure. We have a tendency to get caught up in our routines and miss the small moments in our everyday. I started viewing my daily runs as mini adventures throughout the city. Thinking of my daily routine in this way made me mo…

Read more

Opening the doors

Nonprofits and community groups run mentorship programs, rent or buy adaptive equipment, operate free or subsidized lessons, and coordinate transportation. These all have …

Read more

Hey there!

The lyrics “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” are beginning to ring truer each day, and if you’re a fan of Christmas music, you’ve probably heard the classic “12 Days of Christmas” more than once. Here at Nature’s Playbook, we have our own version: 12 Days of Nature. Because let’s be honest... nature may just be our true love, and i…

Read more

To stay in the loop on these meetups and learn more about Nature’s Playbook, visit naturesplaybook.com or follow us on Instagram.

Nature’s Playbook is a mobile platform designed to build community and create more accessibility around discovering ways to connect with nature. Find the Nature’s Playbook app in both the App Store and Google Play.

This season of gratitude, Nature’s Playbook is serving up something special! We’re giving away a week of sunshine, serenity, and seaside charm at beautiful Alligator Point, Florida.

In partnership with HipNautic Getaways, one lucky winner will enjoy a 7-day stay at a premium waterfront property—valued at $4,500—complete with all the comforts for a perfec…

Read more