American Prairie awarded “Wilderness Quiet Park”
Lewistown, Montana — March 26, 2026: Quiet Parks International has designated American Prairie in Montana, USA, as a Wilderness Quiet Park following an assessment of its natural soundscape and acoustic environment. The designation recognizes locations where human-generated noise occurs infrequently and natural sounds dominate the listening experience.
American Prairie encompasses approximately 600,000 acres of public and private lands in north-central Montana and forms part of an ongoing effort to create a large-scale grassland conservation landscape in the American West.
Acoustic Assessment
As part of the designation process, Quiet Parks International conducted field measurements and listening sessions across the project area.
One metric used during Wilderness Quiet Park assessments is the Noise Free Interval (NFI) — the period between audible human-generated sounds.
QPI guidelines require an average NFI of at least 15 minutes for Wilderness Quiet Park designation. During surveys conducted at American Prairie, field teams recorded intervals ranging from three to four hours between human-generated sounds.
"In the field, we look for a Noise Free Interval (NFI) of at least 15 minutes. At American Prairie, we recorded intervals lasting three to four hours."
— Matt Mikkelsen, Executive Director, Quiet Parks International
"Quiet is part of the prairie's power. By building a habitat base of this scale, we are protecting more than just a view; we are preserving a sensory heritage that is vanishing."
— Alison Fox, CEO, American Prairie
About American Prairie
American Prairie is a nonprofit organization working to assemble and manage a large-scale grassland conservation landscape in Montana. The organization provides public access for recreation including camping, hunting, and wildlife viewing.
About Quiet Parks International
Quiet Parks International is a nonprofit organization that works to identify, protect, and promote quiet places around the world through research, education, and designation programs
Photo credit: Matt Mikkelsen, QPI
Press Contact
Matt Mikkelsen, matt@quietparks.org