Group tour planners seeking serene escapes can now turn to a new resource: a map by the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse (NPC) pinpointing the last remaining naturally quiet places in the U.S. Topping the list? Montana and Wyoming.
NPC’s research highlights 16 remote areas across the country that are “roadless and railless” and far from commercial air traffic. Six of those spots are nestled in northwest Wyoming, including the Teton, Fitzpatrick, and Bridger wilderness areas—each offering hundreds of thousands of untouched acres ideal for guided hikes, nature education, and outdoor recreation.
Just across the border, Montana’s Glacier National Park stands out for its natural beauty and peaceful environs. Spanning over 1 million acres and boasting 700 miles of trails, Glacier was named the first U.S. Wilderness Quiet Park in 2022 by Quiet Parks International. “This award reinforces the natural sounds educational efforts the park makes,” says Matt Mikkelsen, executive director of Wilderness Quiet Parks, in a Travel + Leisure news release. “Increasing awareness of natural sounds helps promote reverence for the park, its ecosystems, and wilderness character.”
Other notable quiet sites to visit in Montana include the Bob Marshall, Absaroka-Beartooth, and Selway-Bitterroot wilderness areas—each offering groups an all-too-rare blend of breathtaking scenery and tranquil immersion, far removed from the modern world’s hum. nonoise.org
Main Image: Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana; Credit: Unsplash/Hans Isaacson
