The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) officially initiated the process of repealing the Roadless Rule today.
The USDA has opened a public comment period about its proposal to revoke the Roadless Rule. This would remove protections from 45 million acres of national forests, including Inventoried Roadless Areas that contain over 420 miles of the Continental Divide Trail.
Explore a Map of Inventoried Roadless Areas Along the CDT
What can you do?
The USDA is accepting public comments until September 19, 2025. This is your chance to share your thoughts on the Roadless Rule.
You can write and submit your own comments by visiting this link and clicking the green “Submit a Public Comment” button in the top right corner. Your comments can be as long or as short as you like – even one sentence can convey your thoughts! If you would like to include comments specific to the CDT, here are some critical talking points:
Over 420 miles of the Continental Divide Trail run through Inventoried Roadless Areas that would be abolished if the Roadless Rule is rescinded, including over 315 miles of the trail in Montana, 40 miles in New Mexico, and 70 miles in Wyoming. Roadless Areas are essential for protecting clean water for people and animals, wildlife habitat and corridors, and unimpeded views – the Roadless Rule protects that.
In 2025, 83% of voters from across eleven Western states identified loss of natural areas in their state as a serious problem. Natural areas are essential to the outdoor recreation economies of rural communities along the Continental Divide Trail. In 2023, the Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated the economic output of outdoor recreation to be $1.2 trillion. Montana and Wyoming both rank among the top five states where outdoor recreation is the biggest contributor to the state’s economy, with outdoor recreation comprising 4.6% and 4.1%, respectively, of each state’s GDP. Communities along the CDT understand the importance of natural areas, including roadless areas, to their culture, way of life, and economy.
What is the Roadless Rule and what’s going on with it?
The Roadless Rule was established in 2001 and was overwhelmingly popular, receiving over 1.5 million supportive public comments. The Roadless Rule protects 59 million acres of Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) in national forests from road construction and development.
Along the CDT, IRAs protect popular recreation areas, watersheds and ecosystems, and wildlife migration corridors valued by hikers, hunters, fishers, campers, and horseback riders alike. Rescinding the Roadless Rule will irreversibly impact not only these landscapes, but also the cultures, economies, and livelihoods of nearby communities who depend on public lands for tourism and enjoyment.
Many of CDTC’s partners have also created template comments that you can use to amplify their message. Check out the following partners’ resources:
Public participation is essential to the successful management of public lands! Thank you for using your voice.