Visit Wilderness

Search for a wilderness as the destination for your next outdoor adventure.

Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, Minnesota

Why Visit Wilderness?

While wilderness can be appreciated from afar—through online content, television, or books—nothing compares to experiencing it firsthand. Activities like camping, hiking, or hunting allow you to fully enjoy the recreational, ecological, spiritual, and health benefits that wilderness areas offer. These areas provide “outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation,” chances to observe wildlife, moments to renew and refresh, and the physical benefits of outdoor exercise. In many wilderness areas, you can even bring your well-behaved dog.

Learn more about the diverse ways in which we benefit from wilderness and threats wilderness areas face today.

Recreational Opportunities

Recreational opportunities include hiking, primitive camping, horseback riding, and hunting. Noncommercial trapping is permitted in accordance with State and Federal laws. Hobby rock collecting is permitted, but limited to hand methods or detection equipment that does not cause a surface disturbance- digging and prying tools are not permitted.

To help preserve Wilderness character through responsible recreation, please:

Choose your equipment in earthtone colors that blend in with the environment.

Hike in small groups when traveling cross-country.

Camp at least ¼ mile from wildlife water sources.

Hide your camp from view and refrain from building camp structures.

Use camp stoves instead of campfires.

If you do build a fire, do not construct a fire ring and use only small sticks. Once the fire is out, scatter ashes and naturalize the area.

Pick up trash and pack it out (yours and others).

Be courteous to other people. Avoid loud music or noise and keep pets under control.

Bury human waste in cat holes 6-8 inches deep and at least 75 paces from your camp or water sources.

Climate and Special Equipment Needs

Temperatures can be as low as 30° Fahrenheit from December through January,, and can reach above 115° Fahrenheit or greater during June through September. Precipitation generally ranges from 2 to 4 inches per year. Rainfall, which can occur at any time of the year, is often preceded by strong and sudden windstorms. Watch for cloud build up and be aware of possible flash flooding in washes and drainages.

Safety and Current Conditions

For your safety:

Let a friend or relative know where you plan to go and when you plan to return.

Plan your trip. Take plenty of water; there are no permanent water sources or facilities in the Eagletail Mountains.

Be aware of poisonous animals. The Wilderness is home to many reptiles and insects whose bite or sting could ruin your day. Never put hands or feet where you can't see.

Avoid abandoned mine workings. These areas are susceptible to collapse and extremely dangerous. They are also home to a variety of animal species that might view your presence as a threat.

Be prepared for extreme temperatures. Check weather forecasts. Dehydration and heat exhaustion can be life threatening. In colder months, guard against hypothermia.

Pace yourselves and recognize your limitations as well as your abilities. The terrain is rugged and there are no established trails. Watch your footing.