Wilderness Areas

Obtaining detailed trail maps is highly recommended before entering wilderness as well as proper planning and precautions before and during your visit. The information and links on this page will help make your wilderness visit a safe and fun experience.

Wilderness Area Vicinity Map

• Bald Knob Wilderness
• Bay Creek Wilderness
• Burden Falls Wilderness
• Clear Springs Wilderness
• Garden of the Gods Wilderness
• Lusk Creek Wilderness
• Panther Den Wilderness

Wilderness Information

• Leave No Trace
• Know Before You Go
• List of Outfitter and Guides
• Forest Rules and Regulations
• Wilderness.net

Restrictions

• Mechanical and motorized vehicles and equipment are prohibited within wilderness.
• In popular areas, use existing, established camp areas away from trails, water and bluff tops to lessen your camping impacts.
• Pack-it-in, pack-it-out. Don’t burn your trash. Bury solid human waste in a cathole 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from campsites, trails and water sources.
• Special Restrictions apply to Garden of the Gods, Lusk Creek and Bay Creek wildernesses:
• Group size limited to 10.
• Riding or leading stock animals off designated trails.
• Wet-weather stock us closure.
• No camping with stock animals.
• Riding, hitching, etc. of stock animals in designated closed areas or more than 25 feet off designated trails.
• Opt not to build campfires and enjoy nature’s nighttime sights and sounds.
• If you must build a campfire, lessen the impacts by using existing fire rings and only dead and down firewood.
• Special restrictions apply within designated Natural Areas. Designated natural areas exist in five wildernesses. Natural area boundaries are marked on the ground with yellow posts.