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John,

Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has been protecting more than 45 million acres of wild forest in the U.S. from destruction from road construction, logging and mining.

These swaths of remote nature are hubs of biodiversity, sustaining more than 220 species that are threatened, endangered or proposed for Endangered Species Act protections.[1]

But these forests are now in danger: The U.S. Forest Service recently announced plans to erase these critical protections.

Here are three forests that could be devastated by the repeal of the Roadless Rule.

Located just miles from Alaska's largest city, the Chugach National Forest may be accessible, but that doesn't mean it's tame. Covering a diverse and rugged landscape larger than New Hampshire, the Chugach is Alaska at its wildest.[2]

From the Eastern Kenai Peninsula, the forest curls around the coastline of Prince William Sound, spanning glacial fjords, then gathers at the largest contiguous wetlands on the Pacific Coast -- the Copper River Delta.[3]

The natural splendor of Chugach National Forest is thanks in large part to the Roadless Rule, which protects approximately 99% of the forest, allowing iconic Alaskan wildlife such as moose, brown bears and wolves to thrive beneath the forest's massive old-growth trees.[4]

The impact of these protections are especially evident in the Chugach's most famous export: Copper River Salmon. The Roadless Rule protects the streams in the Chugach from runoff caused by logging, drilling and construction, ensuring they remain safe for baby salmon. All five species of Pacific salmon can be found in the Copper River, with over 2 million fish returning to its tributaries annually to spawn.[5]

There's never a bad time to visit the Ashley National Forest, but this high country jewel really shines in the fall. Against the backdrop of snow-capped peaks, groves of quaking aspen throw bursts of gold between spans of deep green lodgepole pine.

The Ashley stretches across much of the Uinta Mountains of Northern Utah and spills over the Wyoming border to surround the vast Flaming Gorge.

Though not as well-known as other forests in Utah, the Ashley still attracts more than 2.5 million visitors a year who enjoy the forest's ruggedness. Its roadless areas are especially popular for backpacking, fishing, horseback riding and back country skiing.[6]

Hundreds of acres of this forest are currently protected by the Roadless Rule. This ensures the trees that support huge populations of at-risk birds can remain standing, and that the landscape stays remote enough for elusive animals like Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.[7]

The forest also is critical in maintaining the health of the Uinta Watershed, which provides water for farms and cities across much of Utah, Nevada, Wyoming and California.[8]

The Pisgah National Forest embodies the quiet splendor of the Blue Ridge Mountains in crashing waterfalls and leaf-filtered light, glistening rock faces and the gauzy pink blooms of rhododendrons.

More than 85,000 acres of the Pisgah are designated roadless areas. These lush regions feature some of the Southeast's last remaining old-growth trees, and are beloved by locals and visitors alike.[9]

Roadless areas include the forests of Laurel Mountain -- a destination for mountain bikers -- and much of the land along the South Mills River, which spills down the mountainside, collecting in beaver ponds full of wild brown and rainbow trout.[10]

These beloved regions could be rendered unrecognizable by logging if the Roadless Rule is repealed.

The Roadless Rule is responsible for maintaining so much of what makes these forests special. It helps maintain ecological diversity, the quality of our drinking water and the natural beauty of our public lands.

And we aren't the only ones who love roadless forests -- just last month, Environment Colorado, our coalition partners and allies delivered nearly 500,000 public comments to help save the Roadless Rule and the 45 million acres of forest it protects.

From the Chugach in Alaska, to parts of the Pisgah National Forest in the Southeast, roadless areas are bastions of America's natural identity. Let's keep them that way.

On behalf of our wild forests, thank you,

Ellen Montgomery

P.S. The Roadless Rule comment period may have closed, but the work is far from over. Donate to help support public awareness campaigns, local and national organizing efforts and more to protect our wild forests.
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1. The Forest Service, "Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation," Federal Register, January 12, 2001.
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2. "Chugach NF Visitor Guide," U.S. Forest Service, last accessed October 10, 2025.
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3. "Chugach NF Visitor Guide," U.S. Forest Service, last accessed October 10, 2025.
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4. Dyani Chapman, "Where are the roadless areas in Alaska?" Alaska Environment Research & Policy Center, August 12, 2025.
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5. "Supporting the Long-Term Survival of Copper River Salmon and Alaska Native Traditions," NOAA, August 25, 2025.
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6. "Ashley National Forest: About the Area," U.S. Forest Service, last accessed October 10, 2025.
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7. Liz Weber, "Roadless rule rollback would threaten Utah's at-risk plants and animals," High Country News, July 23, 2019.
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8. "Ashley National Forest: About the Area," U.S. Forest Service, last accessed October 10, 2025.
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9. "Pisgah National Forest," Explore Ashville, last accessed October 10, 2025.
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10. "South Mills River," Western North Carolina Flyfishing, last accessed October 9, 2025.
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