In this article, you will learn what Wilderness is, how to prepare for hiking in Wilderness areas, and what special regulations you must follow.
By Bekah Whitney
Growing up in a city that was surrounded by farmland, I didn’t know Wilderness areas even existed until I went to college. It wasn’t until I moved to the mountains of Colorado that I absolutely fell in love with hiking in Wilderness. The lack of man made sounds, being on a trail for miles without seeing anyone else, and feeling at one with nature are just a few of the reasons hiking in Wilderness just feels different.
Although hiking in Wilderness areas has similar leave no trace principles to hiking anywhere in nature, there are a few key differences. In this article, you will learn what Wilderness is, how to prepare for hiking in Wilderness areas, and what special regulations you must follow.
The National Wilderness Preservation System is a network of public land designated by the federal government. These areas, although not completely untouched by humans, are protected by many laws to be as close to untouched as they can be. “Wilderness areas are the final holdout refuges for a long list of rare, threatened, and endangered species, forced to the edges by modern development. They are the headwaters of critical, life-infusing rivers and streams.” (https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/wilderness)
Some well known Wilderness areas include the Yosemite and Hoover Wilderness in California, Eagles Nest Wilderness in Colorado, Frank Church Wilderness in Idaho, Grand Canyon Wilderness in Arizona, and the Olympic Wilderness in Washington.
The University of Montana put out a wonderful Wilderness Areas of the United States Map so that you can learn where each area is!
Each Wilderness area has specific trail restrictions that you must abide by to keep these areas wild. These restrictions include seasonal closures, how close you can camp and/or have a fire in relation to lakes and rivers, if you need a permit to visit, and how and where to dispose of human waste. All of these regulations are in place to preserve the habitat of some of our favorite creatures, like seasonal closures for elk calving and the protection of sensitive streams and other ecosystems.
Before hiking in Wilderness, you must research any trail-specific rules. Unfortunately, there is no “master list” that details if you need a permit and rules of each Wilderness area so you will have to plan ahead by looking up or calling the field office that manages that area. National forest employees are generally very friendly and helpful because they want others to get out there!
Because no machines, including bicycles, are allowed in Wilderness, rescue is not as readily available as it may be while simply camping in National Forest. Rescue teams will be hiking the same route as you, so however long it took you to get out there is how long it will take a team to come get you.
When hiking in Wilderness there are a few key things I always bring with me:
Although there are different rules in different Wilderness areas that you must abide by, the following are the main rules that you should be aware of in any Wilderness situation.
Hiking in Wilderness areas, especially to high alpine lakes, is one of my favorite summer activities. Although there isn’t a master list of each Wilderness area and if you need a permit to enjoy each one, don’t let this scare you away from exploring Wilderness as a quick google search will give you the information you need, and permits are usually free!
Leave a comment below with your favorite Wilderness areas, bucket list places, or if you have never thought about exploring Wilderness areas, what is the biggest obstacle standing in your way of getting out there.
Hi! I’m Bekah, but you can call me Beks, all my friends do! I travel full-time in a tiny home on wheels that my partner, Sawyer, and I built from a cargo trailer shell in 2019. We started out in beautiful Colorado and have been all over the United States over the years. This space is designed to inspire and guide the nature obsessed nomad, weekend warrior, and future roadlifer. I’m so excited you’re here!
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7 Comments on Hiking in Wilderness: Everything You Need to Know
I didn't realize there were certain areas that were "wilderness" protected. I love to hike and would like to do more exploring so this is really helpful, especially the emergency equipment we should pack. Thanks so much for the tips!
You've given great tips for hiking in the wilderness. I like to get out of the city, but also be safe, and you've given great advice for ensuring that is possible.
I have never been hiking in the wilderness before and had no idea there were so many guidelines to follow! Thanks for such helpful tips!
I didn't either! Glad you enjoyed it!
Useful and practical guide. Wonderful to read the wilderness areas in the U.S.A are protected, while some areas require permits and drones are prohibited.
This is a good overview of wilderness areas. The extra restrictions on wilderness areas certainly are important for preservation over conservation. I do prefer the term "human-made" over man-made as the idea of wilderness has traditionally been a concept steeped in exclusion.
Such a good point! Thanks for sharing and reading!