Wilderness Tutorials: Wilderness Misconceptions

Here are some of the most common misconceptions about Wilderness lands.

All Wilderness is created equal
While it is true that all Wilderness is created under the Wilderness Act of 1964, each Wilderness related package can contain other elements such as economic benefits for local communities, continuing access to private lands in accordance with historical usage, etc. At a minimum, each Wilderness bill will protect some land according to the Wilderness Act, but it might have other components related to the specific area.

Once a land is designated as Wilderness, all users are locked out (with the exception of rich, in-shape yuppie hikers)
Rather than act as a “lock-out”, Wilderness guarantees perpetual, predictable open recreation areas for any and all users. People visit Wilderness areas to hike, climb, ride horses, hunt, fish, ski, river raft, canoe, take pictures, learn, breathe fresh air, experience clean water, enjoy the sounds of nature and just stand. In short, all types of traditional recreation are allowed in Wilderness. To protect the quiet nature of Wilderness for all users, motorized equipment, such as motorboats, cars, trucks and off-road vehicles are not allowed. There are even exceptions to that general rule, such as wheelchairs, and, in Alaska, certain limited mechanized and motorized uses associated with traditional activities and subsistence living. In addition, depending on uses prior to the Wilderness designation, cattle grazing and limited motorized access for ranching may continue.

There is too much Wilderness already
That is only true if you think that less than 5% of the land in the United States is too much to protect for future generations. If you are in the lower 48 states, the percentage drops to just under 3% (because over 50% of America’s Wilderness is found in Alaska). It won’t hurt any of to leave more than 3% of our land in a natural state for future generations.

Western states have a monopoly on Wilderness-quality lands
Almost every state has some land designated as Wilderness. Only in Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland and Rhode Island will you have to find something else to do besides visit their Wilderness.