Wilderness
With the passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964, Congress created the National Wilderness Preservation System. Wilderness areas are managed to preserve their natural conditions and wild character for present and future generations. They possess outstanding ecological, geological, scientific, educational, scenic, or historic values.
Please view the special regulations associated with each Wilderness Area and always use Leave No Trace techniques to help keep these areas wild, clean, and pristine.
There are 8 Wilderness Areas within White River National Forest. These areas include:
- Collegiate Peaks Wilderness
- Eagles Nest Wilderness
- Flat Tops Wilderness
- Holy Cross Wilderness
- Hunter-Frying Pan Wilderness
- Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness
- Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness
- Raggeds Wilderness
Restrictions
Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport are prohibited; this includes the use of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drones, are considered "mechanized” equipment and they may not take off, land or be operated within designated Wilderness.
See the links above for site-specific guidance.