Time Magazine’s American Natural Wonders List Honors 250th Birthday
Time Magazine asked several notable outdoor enthusiasts, environmentalists, travel experts, athletes and more to pick an American natural wonder.
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To mark America’s 250th anniversary, Time Magazine asked several notable outdoor enthusiasts, environmentalists, travel experts, athletes and more to pick an American natural wonder they believe says something special about the country.
Alex Honnold is rock climber. He recently climbed Taipei 101, which was broadcast on Netflix and his free solo climb of El Capitan in Yosemite was chronicled in the Oscar-winning documentary, ‘Free Solo.’ He selected Yosemite National Park in California. He said it’s a wonderful place for people to experience the outdoors.
Jon Krakauer is a mountaineer and author of books including ‘Into the Wild’ and ‘Into Thin Air.’ He chose ‘Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska. He said the over 13,000 square mile preserve speaks to our nation’s longstanding commitment to protecting the environment for the benefit of future generations.
Wildlife Ecologist Rae Wynn-Grant, also co-host of ‘Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild,’ selected The Sky Islands stretching across Arizona and New Mexico. She said the area is home to some of the world’s most endangered wildlife where they reclaim their place in the wild. The landscape reportedly captures America’s spirit of surprises and discovery.
Alpine Skier Mikaela Shiffrin, three-time Olympic gold medalist and eight-time world champion, chose The Rocky Mountains. She said the Rockies played a huge role in her skiing career but they are suffering from the effects of climate change, with increasing temperatures and less snow. She said the mountain ranges highlight the high stakes for the future of snow sports and Earth.
Chuck Sams served as director of the National Parks Service from 2021 to 2025. He is currently the director of Indigenous programs at Yale University’s Center for Environmental Justice. He chose Redwood National and State Parks in California. He said we can look at these magnificent trees and know we will continue to grow together and continue our symbiotic relationship with the natural world now and in generations to come.
Other picks included The High Line in New York City, The Crossroads in Mississippi, Arches National Park in Utah, The Badlands in South Dakota and many more.
