What is a Wilderness area?
A wilderness area is designated land set aside by Congress to preserve its wild state and all of the values associated with that wilderness scenic beauty, solitude, wildlife, geological features, archaeological sites, and other features of scientific, educational, or historical value. The Wilderness Act of 1964 stated that “A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain ” The Wilderness Act further stipulates that wilderness areas should be without permanent improvements of human habitation, affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man s work substantially unnoticeable.
Wilderness areas are a place where the imprint of humans is substantially unnoticed. It is where natural processes are the primary influences and human activity is limited to primitive recreation and minimum tools. This allows for the experience of wild places without intention to disturb or destroy the natural processes. The Carson-Iceberg, Hoover and Mokelumne wilderness areas on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest require an overnight camping permit. Visit our Permits and Passes page or contact your district office for more information on wilderness areas and any restrictions that may apply.
The Wilderness Act of 1964 created the National Wilderness Preservation System to allow Congress to designate certain public lands as wilderness areas “for preservation and protection in their natural condition.” And so that these lands “shall be administered for the use and enjoyment of the American people in such manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness…” Wilderness is the highest level of protection for federal public land available in the United States . There are 643 congressionally designated wilderness areas in the United States today. A little more than 4% of the continental United States is protected as Wilderness.
According to the Wilderness Act of 1964, wilderness areas are where earth and its community of life remains untrammeled, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. Some mark is left in wilderness each time we visit, but each of us can make sure the mark is a small one. Minimum impact or no-trace camping should be considered common sense behavior in the backcountry. Permits are required if one plans to enter the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. They are free, self-issuing, and are available at all trailheads. To enter the Enchantments (a part of the Alpine Lake Wilderness), a reserved permit is required. This must be obtained in advance, though some may be issued for day of use entry at the Leavenworth Ranger Station. See the Wenatchee National Forest website. For all other wilderness areas within the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie, no permit is needed; however, if you cross onto National Park Service land and stay overnight, a free self-issuing permit is required. If you park at a trailhead on
According to the Wilderness Act of 1964, wilderness areas are where earth and its community of life remains untrammeled, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. Some mark is left in wilderness each time we visit, but each of us can make sure the mark is a small one. Minimum impact or no-trace camping should be considered common sense behavior in the backcountry. Permits are required if one plans to enter the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. They are free, self-issuing, and are available at all trailheads. To enter the Enchantments (a part of the Alpine Lake Wilderness), a reserved permit is required. This must be obtained in advance, though some may be issued for day of use entry at the Leavenworth Ranger Station. For all other wilderness areas within the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie, no permit is needed; however, if you cross onto National Park Service land and stay overnight, a free self-issuing permit is required. If you park at a trailhead on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, a
