The Roadless Rule protects 45 million acres of our country’s National Forests.

Roadless areas are open to a wide range of outdoor recreation activities, and they protect clean water, wildlife habitat, and support local economies across the country. Right now, those protections are at risk. A proposed rollback by the USDA could remove protections for 25,121 miles of hiking trails, 10,794 miles of mountain biking trails, hundreds of miles of rivers, and 10,000 climbing routes. Here in the Carolinas, The Roadless Rule protects roughly 144,000 acres in North Carolina alone, a large portion of it within the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests. That includes beloved areas like parts of Linville Gorge, along with the crags, approach trails, and backcountry access that NC and SC climbers depend on every season. If the rule is rolled back, some of our favorite places could be opened to road building and logging, which would fundamentally change the outdoor recreation experience. Public comment is open now through September 21, 2026. Learn more about what’s at stake and how to take action. Outdoor Alliance makes it easy with their action alert tool available at the link in our bio or at: https://bit.ly/45FRw8y Write your lawmakers and let the agency know you want to see roadless forests protected. It takes less than 5 minutes and could make all the difference. 📸 Hawksbill climbing. Photo by Mike Reardon.