ANational Scenic Area in the United States is a federally designated area of outstanding natural and scenic value that receives a level of protection that is less stringent thanwilderness designation. Scenic areas are typically occupied or used in some manner by people and either cannot be considered for wilderness designation, or are seen as suitable for a wider range of uses than those permitted under wilderness designation.[1]
The first National Scenic Area in the United States wasMono Basin National Scenic Area in 1984,[2] followed by the much larger and more ambitiousColumbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in 1986. The Columbia River Gorge was in a region of outstanding natural beauty that was already heavily used by people. The designation of the Columbia Gorge was controversial, as it imposed a significant amount of federal control on public and private lands that had previously not been significantly regulated.[3] Subsequent scenic area designations have been significantly less far-reaching, typically involving existing federal lands.
| Name | Image | Agency | Location | Date established | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Hills |  | BLM | California 36°22′N118°03′W / 36.36°N 118.05°W /36.36; -118.05 (Alabama Hills) | 2019 | The Alabama Hills are a range of hills and rock formations near the eastern slope of theSierra Nevada in theOwens Valley, just west ofLone Pine,California. The site is home to dozens ofnatural arches. |
| Bear Creek | USFS | Virginia 36°32′N81°14′W / 36.54°N 81.24°W /36.54; -81.24 (Bear Creek) | 2009 | Protects the headwaters of Bear Creek in the valley between the convergent ridges of Walker Mountain (to the north) and Brushy Mountain (to the south). | |
| Beech Creek | USFS | Oklahoma 34°21′N94°19′W / 34.35°N 94.31°W /34.35; -94.31 (Beech Creek) | 1988 | ||
| Columbia River Gorge | .jpg) | USFS | Oregon andWashington 45°25′N121°28′W / 45.42°N 121.47°W /45.42; -121.47 (Columbia River Gorge) | 1986 | The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon that stretches for over 80 mi (130 km) as theColumbia River winds westward through theCascade Range, forming the boundary between the state of Washington to the north and Oregon to the south. |
| Coosa Bald |  | USFS | Georgia 34°28′N83°35′W / 34.46°N 83.58°W /34.46; -83.58 (Coosa Bald) | 1995 | |
| Indian Nations | .jpg) | USFS | Oklahoma 34°28′N94°25′W / 34.46°N 94.42°W /34.46; -94.42 (Indian Nations) | 1988 | The wildlife and scenic area consists of 41,051 acres (16,613 ha), comprising theWinding Stair Mountains,Cedar Lake, several campgrounds, and many hiking trails.Talimena Scenic Drive winds through the southern portion of the wildlife and scenic area. |
| Mono Basin | .jpg) | USFS | California 37°34′N119°02′W / 37.57°N 119.03°W /37.57; -119.03 (Mono Basin) | 1984 | Mono Basin is anendorheicdrainage basin located east ofYosemite National Park in California and Nevada. Notable features in the basin includeMono Lake and theMono-Inyo Craters. |
| Mount Pleasant |  | USFS | Virginia 37°27′N79°06′W / 37.45°N 79.10°W /37.45; -79.10 (Mount Pleasant) | 1994 | |
| Saint Helena Island | USFS | Michigan 45°31′N84°31′W / 45.51°N 84.52°W /45.51; -84.52 (Saint Helena Island) | 2000 | St. Helena Island is an uninhabited 240 acres (97 ha) island in theLake Michigan approach to theStraits of Mackinac. A small shallow embayment on the island's northern shore provided shelter for bothNative Americans andvoyageurs who sought shelter from fierce southerly storms. By contrast, the south of the island features a wateryshoal at its southernmost point, a navigational hazard which inspired the construction of theSt. Helena Island Light in 1873. | |
| Seng Mountain |  | USFS | Virginia 36°26′N81°21′W / 36.43°N 81.35°W /36.43; -81.35 (Seng Mountain) | 2009 | The scenic area includes Rowland Creek Falls and all portions of the Iron Mountain system within the upper drainage of the South Fork of theHolston River. |
Several proposals have been advanced for additional National Scenic Areas:
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National scenic areas in the United States travel guide from Wikivoyage