What is Wilderness?
- "...lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition..." Section 2(a)
- "...an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man..." Section 2(c)
- "...an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvement or human habitation..." Section 2(c)
- "...generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable..." Section 2(c)
- "...has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation..." Section 2(c)
- "...shall be devoted to the public purposes of recreation, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation and historic use." Section 4(b)
The BLM manages it's wilderness areas in accordance with the Wilderness Act to provide current and future users with opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation. The Grand Junction Field Office currently manages two wilderness areas, the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Area and the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area.
For more information and resources on wilderness areas and monitoring, please visit the National Wilderness Training Center website or wilderness.net.