Public Lands

Stories about National Forests, BLM lands, wilderness areas, national parks and the management, politics and future of America's shared landscapes. Addressing the democratic promise—and practical challenges—of land that belongs to all of us.

December 14, 2025
By Madison Dapcevich Historic and devastating, the 2011 floods tore through the Musselshell River in central Montana, forever transforming the…
June 16, 2025
Rediscovering the Shortline Route. BY CAITLIN STYRSKY The rumble of the passenger train reverberates through the mountains as dawn breaks…
June 16, 2025
Traversing the Teton Range—by foot. BY SOPHIE TSAIRIS The Teton Crest Trail is a point-to-point 35- to 40-mile trail traversing…
June 16, 2025
The land swap that changed Greater Yellowstone. BY MIRA BRODY It can be presumed that entrepreneur Tim Blixseth had a…
June 16, 2025
"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." – Native American Proverb BY…
December 4, 2024
Profiling area conservation nonprofits. BY MIRA BRODY In the summer of 2015, a coalition of residents and landowners in Paradise…
December 4, 2024
Grizzly 399 reigned from her throne in one of the wildest habitats in the Lower 48 for nearly 30 years,…
June 18, 2024
Exploring the region’s history with conservation. BY TAYLOR OWENS Conservation work in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has a storied past…
June 18, 2024
Rep. Ryan Zinke on the outdoor experience. BY MIRA BRODY Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke believes there are two groups within…
June 18, 2024
A Western 1940s tale of love in a fire lookout. WORDS BY MICHAEL OBER ILLUSTRATIONS BY HALLE HAUER Athe truck…