Public Lands Archives | REI Co-op Journal

A New Bipartisan Bill Would Improve Outdoor Access for Veterans

REI Staff//November 16, 2018

The Outdoor Recreation Therapy for Veterans Act introduced by Adam Smith (D-WA) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) this week would open federal lands to veteran care based on growing evidence of the connection between time spent in nature and positive mental health. Read More...

New Analysis Reveals Top 50 Cities for Access to the Outdoors

Caitlin Moran//November 13, 2018

REI and the Trust for Public Land analyzed the top U.S. cities by access to green space. Find out which cities made the list. Read More...

Your Guide to Rocky Fork State Park

Graham Averill//November 7, 2018

Spend some time poking around and you’ll find towering cliffs, deep swimming holes and expansive views at Rocky Fork State Park in Tennessee. Read More...

Election Results: Outdoor Ballot Initiatives

REI Staff//November 6, 2018

Across the country, specific initiatives on the 2018 November ballot have the potential to invest significant dollars in the outdoors. Read More...

Is the John Muir Trail Being Loved to Death?

Sam Morse//November 5, 2018

A new nonprofit foundation, with help from a new Teton Gravity Research film starring Jeremy Jones and Elena Hight, set out to protect California’s historic 211-mile John Muir Trail, which is at risk of degradation due to overuse. Read More...

What the Middle Fork of the Salmon River Reveals About Our Public Lands

Morgan Tilton//October 30, 2018

What the Middle Fork of the Salmon River—one of the world's most pristine and wild stretches of whitewater—tells us about the future of our public lands. Read More...

Why Voting for the Outdoors Matters—and How to Do It

REI Staff//October 29, 2018

Editor's note: We would like to be clear that we understand opinions on the midterm elections vary and that REI maintains a strongly nonpart... Read More...

A hiker stands on a bluff overlooking San Francisco.

Making The Case For Life Outside

Jerry Stritzke//October 19, 2018

#OptOutside has always been about choice. The choice to put people ahead of profits, the choice to close our doors on the biggest day in ret... Read More...

10 Best Experience Gifts for Outdoorsy Types

Susan Tanabe//October 12, 2018

Why gift another thing they'll outgrow or never use? Here are 10 experience gift ideas that no amount of tape and wrapping paper can contain. Read More...

Two Cities Make Strides Toward Car-Less Transit to Trails

Aer Parris//October 9, 2018

Without a car your options for getting to trails around you are limited. Seattle and Los Angeles are working to change that with public transit. Read More...

Headwaters State Forest Is Open to Hikers

Graham Averill//October 2, 2018

In September, a 6,730-acre tract along the North Carolina-South Carolina border known as Headwaters State Forest was opened to the public. Read More...

West Ridge Nature Preserve: A Hidden Oasis at One of Chicago’s Busiest Intersections

Seth Putnam//September 21, 2018

There are precious few places in Chicago where you can truly lose yourself in green space. West Ridge Nature Preserve is one of them. Read More...