Wilderness

Wilderness has different meanings for different people. For federal land managers, Wilderness is specifically described in the Wilderness Act of 1964.

• Wilderness is Untrammeled – “untrammeled” is mostly synonymous with “wild.” Untrammeled lands are self-willed. Rivers, plants, and insects are free to behave as they please without intentional acts of human interference or manipulation.
• Wilderness is Natural – Indigenous species, ecological processes, and local communities of life are free from the effects of modern civilization.
• Wilderness is Undeveloped – these areas are without permanent improvements or the sights and sounds of modern human occupation
• Wilderness has opportunities for Solitude or Primitive and Unconfined Recreation – the experience is free from modern encumbrances and creates an opportunity to get away from crowds; there are opportunities for self-reliance, self-discovery, physical and mental challenge, and freedom from societal obligations.
• Wilderness may have Other Features of Value – wilderness may contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value.

These five qualities make up wilderness character. Each federally designated wilderness has the first four to some extent, while “other features of value” may or may not be formally recognized for a given wilderness. In practice, managers seek to maximize these qualities, but all wildernesses experience some amount of degradation when compared to theoretical “pure” wilderness. Things like nearby highway noise, air pollution, invasive species, past land use practices, and current recreation activities all shape wilderness character. Managers must do their best to strike a balance between exercising restraint and taking action to improve wilderness character.

Federally designated wilderness areas are among the most protected public lands in the United States. They are intended to be self-willed lands where managers must operate with restraint. This means that rivers are allowed to change course, plant communities transform at their own pace, and insects, fire, and other natural disturbance processes can act without disruption. Timber harvest, grazing, mining, and most developments are prohibited. Tools and equipment are restricted for the visiting public as well as for Forest Service staff. Prohibitions include closure to motorized equipment (for example, chainsaws, trolling motors, drones or other flying devices, and any kind of motor vehicle) as well as mechanical transport equipment (such as bicycles, portage wheels, game carts, and similar devices).

For more information on federally designated wilderness, please visit wilderness.net to access Wilderness Connect, a partnership through the Wilderness Institute at The University of Montana, the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center, and the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute.

A Note on Wilderness Courtesy 

Solitude and nondisruptive enjoyment of the natural setting are essential to the Wilderness Experience. You can help preserve the Hiawatha’s Wildernesses by practicing minimum impact techniques while camping. Here are some good practices to follow: 

• Plan ahead to avoid crowded dates and places.
• Avoid trampling vegetation--Keep pets under control at all times – if you must bring them.
• Never pick or collect wildflowers, plant specimens, rocks, pinecones, etc.
• Allow sufficient space between camps.
• Leave audio devices and boisterous conduct home.
• Do not blaze trees or build rock piles to mark your route when traveling off trails. Use a compass.
• Never bury trash. Animals will dig it up.
• Always bury human waste and toilet paper at least 200 feet from campsites, trails and water sources. Use a backpacker’s trowel.
• Choose equipment and clothing in earthtone colors.
• Keep group size to 6 or fewer people.
• Pack out what you pack in.

If you decide that the wilderness experience isn’t what you’re after, consider other recreation opportunities, including: 

• Developed campgrounds
• Dispersed campsites
• Semi-primitive non-motorized areas
• Maintained hiking, snowmobile and ski trails.

The most developed of the Hiawatha’s wildernesses, Big Island Lake Wilderness has twelve designated campsites with fire rings and latrines. A number of maintained hiking and portage trails connect visitors to inland lakes with a variety of habitat and cover types, including a couple of islands. Canoe camping and fishing are popular activities across this 5,700-acre area. In response to visitor use and to protect wilderness, a few special regulations have been implemented at Big Island Lake Wilderness:

• Campfires are only permitted in the fire rings provided at designated sites
• Campers are encouraged to use designated campsites to reduce impacts
• Dispersed camping is not permitted within 200 feet of any shoreline or designated campsite
• Dispersed camping is not permitted within 100 feet of any trail or portage
• The maximum group size is 10 people, and the maximum number of people per campsite is 6 people
• Saddle or pack animals are prohibited
• Glass containers are prohibited
• These regulations are in addition the standard wilderness prohibitions on motorized equipment or mechanized transport

Contact the Munising Ranger District Office for more information.

The name of this 11,900-acre wilderness comes from the early loggers who worked in this area during the spring and early summer. The story goes that the mosquitoes, blackflies, and no-see-ums were so intense, loud, and constant that timber crews were driven into a state of delirium. No logging has occurred here in a long time, but the bugs are still there. This is the least developed of the Hiawatha’s wildernesses with no designated trails, campsites, or other recreation infrastructure. A venture into the interior of this area is a special journey that is not for the faint of heart. This is one of the wildest places in the Upper Peninsula, and the opportunities for solitude reflect that. For more information, please contact the St. Ignace/Sault Ste. Marie Ranger District Office .

Such a stretch of undeveloped shoreline is a rare treat in the Great Lakes region. Situated along Horseshoe Bay in northwest Lake Huron, this wilderness protects miles of great lakeshore and the transition from ancient shoreline to inland forest. Sandy beaches, gravel ridges, and karst-influenced wetlands result in an impressive diversity of flora and fauna across 3,800 acres. The Horseshoe Bay Trail takes hikers from inland pine forest, across the linear dune-swale complex, to a sandy Lake Huron beach. Visitors should stick to the middle of the trail and expect to get their feet wet. For more information on this area, please contact the St. Ignace/Sault Ste. Marie Ranger District Office .

The Mackinac Wilderness encompasses 11,400 acres of inland swamp, upland hardwoods, and several notable drainages. Chief among them is the Wild and Scenic Carp River, which cuts across the wilderness from west to east. Paralleling the river is the Carp River Hiking Trail, managed at the minimum maintenance level. Hikers should expect to do some route finding, scrambling through brush, and river fording. Any attempts to paddle the Carp River through the wilderness should be carefully considered due to the remote nature of the river and lack of access points or development. The river regularly changes course, leading to nearly impenetrable log jams and everchanging sand and soil deposits. More information is available through the St. Ignace/Sault Ste. Marie Ranger District Office.

Silver Creek and Rock River enter from the west, carve through 150-foot-deep sandstone canyons, and join together before exiting this 5,200-acre wilderness to the east. The rugged terrain and ample moisture yield diverse habitats and microclimates, while the higher ground is more plateau-like and blanketed with northern hardwood forest. A trail provides access to Rock River Falls, but hikers should plan to get their feet on this moderately difficult trail. In winter, great snow draws visitors to this wilderness. Spectacular ice features form where groundwater seeps through the sandstone, including at the popular Eben Ice Caves. The ice caves and the associated geology have been recognized by some as another feature of value for the Rock River Canyon Wilderness.

If you plan to visit the Eben Ice caves, please note:

• This area is within the Rock River Canyon Wilderness and is subject to all guidance for designated Wilderness areas.
• The “caves” form as water seeps through sandstone overhangs and freezes, creating icicles that extend down until they reach the ground and begin growing outward. The ice is dynamic, fluctuating throughout the season. It can be unstable and large chunks can fall unpredictably. A nearby creek may not be frozen over, depending on recent weather. Be alert and aware during your visit.
• There is no official Forest Service trail, and this is a very wet area. Prospective visitors should turn around if the ground is not completely frozen to avoid damaging sensitive natural resources.
• The terrain in this wilderness can be steep and treacherous, especially when icy. Visitors in winter should use ice cleats or other traction aids. Injuries have occurred as a result of slips and falls. Good traction aids also protect natural resources – past visitors have uprooted vegetation and damaged soils due to poor footing.

Contact the Munising Ranger District Office for more information.

Nestled between Mackinac and Bois Blanc Islands in the busy Straits of Mackinac, Round Island is 375 acres of wilderness beauty rising above the chilly waters of Lake Huron. The designated Wilderness boundary includes all of this Great Lakes island except for its westernmost tip and the Round Island Light House. The core of the island features towering sugar maple and open understory, while steep slopes step down to balsams, cedars, and cobbly shorelines. In addition to its colonial-era significance, Round Island has deep roots and extreme significance for the Anishinaabeg people. For these reasons, “Cultural Resources” has been identified as another feature of value for Round Island Wilderness. In addition to regular wilderness regulations, visitors are asked to be particularly respectful and low impact at this sensitive place. To assist with minimizing recreational impacts, wilderness portal signs are present at two access areas, and overnight campers should use the wilderness latrines provided at these sites (see map). Please contact the St. Ignace/Sault Ste. Marie Ranger District Office for more information.