Wilderness on the Hiawatha

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.

Before you plan your trip into the Wilderness, ask yourself if you really want a Wilderness experience. Although many resort areas serve Upper Michigan, the Wilderness is preserved in a natural state - without roads, electricity, telephones, tap water, trashcans, restrooms, and other amenities offered in some campgrounds and picnic areas throughout the Forest.

The key to enjoying a visit to the wilderness is to plan a trip that matches your experience and expectations. For those interested in backcountry-style camping and off-trail hiking without as many restrictions, there are few things to keep in mind:

• Minimum impact techniques are always appropriate on public land, including in wilderness. Always plan ahead and prepare, and pack out everything that you pack into the area.
• Visitors to wilderness face inherent risks of adverse weather conditions, isolation, physical hazards, and lack of rapid communications.
• Search and rescue operations take more time than in a more developed setting.