Montana grasslands awarded “Wilderness Quiet Park” status
Lewistown, Montana — March 26, 2026: In an increasingly loud world, American Prairie—the non-profit organization working to build the largest nature reserve in the contiguous United States—has emerged as a rare global stronghold for natural silence.
Today, the organization announced it has been officially designated as a Wilderness Quiet Park by Quiet Parks International (QPI). This recognition identifies American Prairie’s vast project area as one of the last places on Earth where the "sound of humanity" is absent for hours at a time, protecting an endangered acoustic heritage for both wildlife and people.
This recognition places American Prairie’s 600,000-acre expanse among a select group of elite international sites where the natural soundscape remains undisturbed by human activity, marking a new frontier in "Acoustic Conservation."
“Silence is becoming one of the most endangered resources on the planet,” said Matt Mikkelsen, Executive Director of Quiet Parks International. “Each visit to American Prairie has been transformative. In the field, we look for a Noise Free Interval (NFI)—the time between human-made sounds—of at least 15 minutes. At American Prairie, we recorded intervals lasting three to four hours. It is, quite simply, one of the quietest and acoustically intact places remaining in the United States.”
The Science of Silence
The QPI designation is rooted in rigorous acoustic testing. While most protected wilderness areas in the U.S. experience human-caused noise every few minutes, American Prairie’s data exceeds international standards by over 1,500%. This lack of "anthropogenic noise" is critical not only for human neurological restoration but for wildlife biodiversity, allowing species to communicate, hunt, and migrate without auditory interference.
“Quiet is part of the prairie’s power,” said Alison Fox, American Prairie CEO. “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. Standing on this landscape, you aren’t just hearing 'nothing'—you are hearing the heartbeat of a vital ecosystem.”
For visitors seeking a transformative antidote to the pace of modern life, American Prairie offers a place to reset, reflect, and reconnect with the natural world's fundamental quiet. To learn more about North America's largest nature reserve and how to support vital soundscape conservation, please visit AmericanPrairie.org.
About American Prairie
American Prairie’s vision is to create a vast and collaboratively managed prairie destination that serves as a fully functioning ecosystem for wildlife, and offers visitors permanent access to the landscape that shaped our nation’s character. Already open to the public for recreation including camping and hunting, American Prairie offers visitors an opportunity to connect with nature on a truly grand scale. Learn more at americanprairie.org.
About Quiet Parks International
Quiet Parks International (QPI) is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving quiet for the benefit of all life. Through research, education, and advocacy, QPI identifies and designates Quiet Parks across the globe—natural areas where the restorative power of silence remains intact.
Media Contact
Matt Mikkelsen, matt@quietparks.org
Photo credit: Matt Mikkelsen, QPI