The Grand Canyon Wilderness Alliance (GCWA) is a group of 23 organizations whose mission is to preserve the wilderness character of the Grand Canyon for future generations by protecting its ecological integrity and providing opportunities for a wilderness experience.
The alliance plans to maintain the wilderness qualities of the park by:
(1) establishing a motor-free Colorado River;
(2) eliminating the use of helicopters for passenger exchanges;
(3) establishing wilderness compatible group sizes for raft trips: and
(4) supporting wilderness compatible numbers of visitor contacts.
Other goals of the GCWA:
- Guarantee appropriate management for Grand Canyon National Park proposed and potential wilderness by use of minimum requirement analysis and minimum tools.
- Promote a sound river and terrestrial ecosystem
- Protect the natural and cultural resources.
- Provide visitor use consistent with preservation of the ecosystem.
- Provide for appropriate and fair ratio between commercial and private use allocation leading to equitable access to the river.
- Designate the NPS's proposed Grand Canyon Wilderness, including the river and at least 1.1 million acres of land, as wilderness.
Members include:
- The Wilderness Society
- Alaska Wilderness League
- American Canoe Association
- American Lands Alliance
- Arizona Wilderness Coalition
- Bluewater Network
- Californians for Western Wilderness
- Flagstaff Activists Network
- Friends of the Earth
- Great Old Broads for Wilderness
- Living Rivers
- National Parks Conservation Association
- National Wildlife Federation
- Natural Resources Defense Council
- New Mexico Wilderness Alliance
- Northwest Rafters Association
- Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility
- Republicans for Environmental Protection
- REP Environmental Education Foundation
- River Runners for Wilderness
- Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
- U.S. Public Interest Research Group
- Wilderness Watch
Joining the Coalition
For information on how your organization can join the Grand Canyon Wilderness Alliance, contact
Sue Gunn, Director of the National Parks Program at the Wilderness Society.
