Wilderness

The National Wildlife Refuge System has more than 20 million acres of designated wilderness. It has 75 wilderness areas – about one-fifth of the designated wilderness acres in the United States -- on 63 refuges in 26 states. About 90 percent of the Refuge System’s wilderness is in Alaska. The Mount Massive Wilderness in Colorado is managed by the Leadville Fish Hatchery.

Click a state below to view Wilderness Areas

The Wilderness Act

The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the National Wilderness Preservation System and a process for federal agencies to recommend wilderness areas to Congress. Wilderness, as defined by the Wilderness Act, is untrammeled (free from man's control), undeveloped, and natural, offering outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation.

Visitors to wilderness areas may hunt, fish, observe wildlife and take photos if the refuge permits these activities. Many other types of recreation may also be permitted, such as cross-country skiing, canoeing, kayaking and hiking. Check with the refuge about recreation offered.

Did You Know?

• Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, NJ, was the first refuge to receive wilderness designation — 3,660 acres in 1968.
• The smallest wilderness area in the Refuge System is the two-acre Wisconsin Islands Wilderness, Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge, WI.
• The largest wilderness area in the Refuge System is 8 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, AK. Nearly 75 per cent of Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is wilderness.
• The most recent additions to wilderness areas within the Refuge System were included in the 1994 California Desert Bill – 3,195 acres in Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, CA/AZ and 5,836 acres in Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, CA/AZ.

Wilderness Fellowship Program
Through the Wilderness Character Monitoring program, begun in 2011, Wilderness Fellows conduct wilderness character assessments on refuges to evaluate the impacts of nearby development, climate changes, management actions and other factors on wilderness character to better ensure the preservation of the these wild areas for future generations.

Wilderness Fellows gain valuable career experience while helping advance stewardship of wilderness resources. Natural processes predominate in wilderness areas, making them an important part of a national strategy for monitoring long-term ecological change.

Fellows spend six months in a wilderness refuge, taking training courses, developing an inventory and monitoring strategy, and producing baseline data about wilderness character.

Meet the 2013 Wilderness Fellows (673 KB pdf)