National Parks Traveler Podcast | Wilderness Lost

National Parks Traveler Podcast | Wilderness Lost

Author: Kurt Repanshek June 21, 2026 Duration: 48:18

Across the United States, from Alaska to Puerto Rico, there are about 112 million acres of officially designated wilderness. That amounts to about 5 percent of the country's land mass. It might appear to be even smaller when you consider that more than half of those 112 million acres protected as wilderness are in Alaska.

To say that wilderness is at risk from the human imprint isn't hyperbole. While there are millions of acres of proposed, recommended, and potential wilderness across the country, Congress acts extremely slowly on these matters. Indeed, it was back in 1989 when America's Red Rock Wilderness Act was first proposed in Congress to protect 8 million acres in Utah as official wilderness. The clock continues to tick on that proposal.

Without official designation as wilderness, lands can be impacted by motorized and mechanized activities, from logging and mining and energy development to off-road-vehicle recreation. But the threats to both unofficial and official wilderness might be growing, as the Trump administration has called for a review of wilderness management on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and even the National Park Service.

To explore what's at stake with wilderness in America under these proposals, we have Kevin Proescholdt, the conservation director for Wilderness Watch, a nonprofit advocacy organization, and Bob Krumenaker, chairman of Keep Big Bend Wild, a nonprofit advocating for official wilderness designation in Big Bend National Park and a long-time National Park Service manager joining us today.

Public comment on the Interior secretary's directives is being taken through mid-August. Here are links to the public comment pages:

BLM

NPS

FWS


There's a world of stories waiting beyond the park entrance sign, and the National Parks Traveler Podcast is your audio guide to them. Led by Kurt Repanshek, this series goes deeper than trail maps and visitor statistics. It connects the natural wonder you experience firsthand with the crucial, often unseen work happening behind the scenes-the science informing conservation, the cultural histories embedded in the landscape, and the policy decisions that will shape these places for future generations. As the audio companion to the editorially independent nonprofit media organization, this podcast delivers a thoughtful blend of on-the-ground reports, interviews with researchers and park staff, and nuanced discussions about the challenges and triumphs in managing protected areas. You'll hear the sounds of the parks and the voices of the people dedicated to them. Each episode is an invitation to better understand the complex tapestry of ecology, history, and society that makes every national park far more than a scenic destination. Tune in for a regular dose of insight that will deepen your appreciation and perhaps even shape your next journey into America's most treasured public lands.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

National Parks Traveler Podcast
Podcast Episodes
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Rare Phenomena in the Parks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:11
It's been said that the night skies are the other half of the National Park System. And it only makes sense, for when you're in a park and the sun goes down you tend to look into the night sky to spot constellations or,…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Keeping Glacier Bay's Whales Safe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:18
Vessel-whale collisions are a significant concern in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, where nutrient-rich waters support a seasonal influx of humpback whales and other marine mammals. As one of the most visited ma…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Nature is Nonpartisan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:26
Is nature nonpartisan? Earlier this year we had an interview with Dr. Caleb Scoville from Tufts University, who received an Andrew Carnegie fellowship to explore whether environmental issues are highly partisan. It can c…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | El Camino Real de los Tejas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:43
El Camino Real de Los Tejas is a network of trails that connected Spanish missions, settlements, and military outposts from Mexico through Texas and into Louisiana. Now a national historic trail, this road played a cruci…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Theresa Pierno [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:13
The National Parks Conservation Association is almost as old as the National Park Service. The Service, as you probably know, was established in 1916, and NPCA came along three years later. Through the 106-year history o…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | The Future of Grizzly Bears [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:10
Grizzly bears. They define charismatic megafauna. Huge animals that draw both human admiration and fear. Once they roamed the entire country, though that was a long time ago. Today there are pockets of grizzly bear popul…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Appalachian Trail Crowds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:44
Running nearly 2,200 miles along the spine of the Appalachian Range from Georgia to Maine, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail arguably is the world's most famous long-distance trail. Some think it's also one that can…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Intrepid Travel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:04
Heading into the National Park System this summer? Going it alone, or have you booked a tour company? What do you think about how the Trump Administration and Congress are treating the National Parks and the National Par…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | ATC at 100 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:16
Anniversaries and birthdays give us time to reflect on individuals, accomplishments, and moments in history. They often refresh our memories and can serve as motivators to do something. This year marks the 100th annivers…