Wilderness Capitalization

The word wilderness is inconsistently capitalized, even among agency staff, academics, and the most seasoned stewards. This guide explains when wilderness should and should not be capitalized, with reference to The Wilderness Act.

The Rule

Capitalize Wilderness when referring to a specific, federally designated wilderness area.
Keep it lowercase (wilderness) for all other uses of the word.

Colloquially, people sometimes say “big W Wilderness” to refer to federally designated wilderness areas. However, this phrase should not guide capitalization. The word wilderness itself is only capitalized when used as a proper noun.

The Ultimate Proof: The Wilderness Act

If in doubt, look no further than the source itself—The Wilderness Act of 1964.

In the text of The Wilderness Act, wilderness is not capitalized, even when defining or describing designated wilderness. The only times you’ll see a capital “W” are in the terms The Wilderness Act and National Wilderness Preservation System.

That usage is deliberate. It reflects Congress’s intent to treat wilderness as a common noun—a type of place, not a proper noun or name. For example:

“A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape…”
— The Wilderness Act of 1964, Section 2(c)

Breaking It Down

It’s correct to write “That Wilderness area” (with a capital W) when referring to a specific, named Wilderness area—even if you don’t restate the full name. That’s because Wilderness remains part of the proper noun, even when used on its own as shorthand.

For Example:

• The Bob Marshall Wilderness is remote. That Wilderness area is known for packrafting opportunities.
  Here, Wilderness stands in for the full proper name Bob Marshall Wilderness.

If you’re talking about wilderness in general—not a specific designated area—it stays lowercase:

• Many people find peace in wilderness.

Help Spread the Word!

This capitalization rule isn’t always applied consistently, but you can set the example. Whether you’re writing an article, report, sign, class paper, email, or social media post, capitalizing wilderness correctly helps communicate clearly and accurately.