As a new year dawns, it brings with it celebrations and resolutions. At The Conservation Fund, we celebrate another year in our country’s rich history of permanently protecting places that give meaning and inspiration to our lives.
In our view, the best resolution you can make for 2017 is to get out and explore these treasures—our national, state and local parks, trails, historic sites, forests, rivers and lakes. Here we highlight just a few of our favorites places—where wildlife lives, where history lives on, and for recreation.
As the well-travelled Mark Twain observed: “Years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do then by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Go on—get outdoors!
Wildlife Havens
Sax-Zim Bog
Northern Minnesota
Snowy Owls, Northern Hawk Owls and the incredible Great Gray Owls are just some of the 240 bird species that congregate in the bogs of Sax-Zim, drawing thousands of birdwatchers from all over the world. To protect this amazing and unique region, The Conservation Fund and our partners had to address and overcome historical, cultural and regulatory challenges. All in all, the Sax-Zim Bog project protects more than 30,000 acres—an area larger than Manhattan—of forestland and America’s premier boreal birding site.
Photo by Sparky Stensaas.PLAN YOUR VISIT
Located an easy 50-minute drive north west of Duluth, Minnesota, the Bog is easily accessible by car. The best time for the winter specialties is mid-December through late February, and the Welcome Center is open daily from mid-December to mid-March.
Three Sisters Springs
Crystal River, Florida
During the winter months, as well as cold fronts, Three Sisters Springs are home to more than 150 endangered manatees. The Fund worked with numerous public and private partners for several years to complete a conservation project that protects nearly 60 acres of property at Crystal River now managed as a wildlife refuge.
Photo by Alicia Wellman/FWC. Check out www.threesistersspringsvisitor.org for more information, and the latest information on water status will be posted on their Facebook page.
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
Texas
Located at the southeastern tip of Texas along the Rio Grande River and the Gulf of Mexico, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge encompasses more than 97,000 acres, a portion of which are open to the public for wildlife related activities like wildlife watching, hunting, fishing, photography and environmental education. Today, Laguna Atascosa is a world-renowned birding destination, boasting more recorded bird species than any other refuge in the entire United States National Wildlife Refuge System. It also is home to one of the two remaining ocelot populations in the nation, making it integral for conservation and recovery efforts for these endangered cats.
Photo by Seth Patterson. Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Seven days a week during daylight hours, you can enjoy Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge's many trails and auto-tour route. Enjoy wildlife-related activities, including wildlife watching, hiking, and wildlife photography.
Historic Treasures
Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
Virginia; Maryland; Delaware; Pennsylvania; and the District of Columbia
The historic routes of Captain John Smith cover more than 3,000 miles of the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries, and they may be accessed from hundreds of points throughout Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. To commemorate Smith’s voyages, The Conservation Fund rallied wide-ranging support from the Chesapeake Bay community for the creation of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail—the first entirely water-based trail in the National Trail System.
Photo by National Parks Conservation Association.Whether you plan a paddle trip, a sailing excursion, or a drive to the shore for a glimpse of the Bay, there are numerous ways to experience the trail and to learn about Smith's historic journeys, the lifestyles of American Indians, and the rich and diverse flora and fauna of the 17th-century Chesapeake Bay.
Explore with google trekker
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
Oregon; Washington
Through our Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Initiative, the Fund has helped conserve more than 25,000 acres along the famous route. This includes the land protected at the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in Oregon and Washington.
Photo by Edward Stojakovic/Flickr.
Explore the winter encampment site of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Fort Clatsop, and take a hike on one of many trails following the expedition's footsteps. Or visit Middle Village/Station Camp and learn about the Chinookan people who greeted the Lewis and Clark expedition at the mouth of the Columbia River.
Explore with google trekker
Recreational Standouts
Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area
Georgia
Located just 20 minutes from downtown Atlanta, Georgia, Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area is widely valued for its nationally significant granite outcrops, abundant wildflowers and quiet streams. The Conservation Fund helped secure a major addition to Arabia Mountain Park that formed the foundation for a larger network of green space and created part of a corridor linking the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve to nearby Panola Mountain State Park. Combined, the two parks constitute one of the largest natural areas in metro-Atlanta.
Photo by G.Dawson/Flickr.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
PLAN YOUR VISIT
More than 2,000 acres, two mountains, three lakes and many historic sites await at Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. Located just outside the I-285 perimeter on Atlanta’s east side, Arabia Mountain is full of opportunities for outdoor adventure close to the metro area.
Explore with google trekker
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
Wisconsin
You won't see woolly mammoths or saber-toothed tigers on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Wisconsin, but you may see animals such as the red fox, white-tailed deer, porcupine, ruffed grouse and bald eagle. The Conservation Fund worked with local, state and federal agencies, as well as with private landowners and community organizations, to permanently protect new segments of the trail and create better public access. Stretching more than 1,000 miles, the Ice Age Trail traces the edge of the last glacier that covered North America, highlighting the finest features of the glacial landscape, as well as other scenic and natural resources.
Photo by Joshua Mayer.Numerous trailheads with parking are located throughout the state, and some points are accessible by public transportation.
Mt. Baldy
Los Angeles County, California
Mt. Baldy stands as the tallest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains, and offers visitors stunning views of the Los Angeles skyline. Popular with hikers, anglers, mountain bikers, skiers and snowboarders, Mt. Baldy also attracts wildlife species like black bears, bobcats, mountain lions, rainbow trout and mule deer.
Mt. Baldy was one of The Conservation Fund's first land conservation efforts in Los Angeles County and follows on the heels of our recent green infrastructure-based plan, the Emerald Necklace Forest to Ocean Expanded Vision Plan for Los Angeles County. This plan creates a common vision and implementation strategies for a large-scale interconnected network of green space from the San Gabriel Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.
Photo by Shrubhiker/Flickr.The start of the Mt. Baldy trail is about 15 minutes off the freeway in the small Mt. Baldy Village.
Written By
The Conservation Fund
At The Conservation Fund, we make conservation work for America. By creating solutions that make environmental and economic sense, we are redefining conservation to demonstrate its essential role in our future prosperity. Top-ranked for efficiency and effectiveness, we have worked in all 50 states since 1985 to protect more than 8.8 million acres of land.The Latest from Our Blog
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