Ashley National Forest

What is Wilderness? Wilderness means different things to different people and can be difficult to define. Its benefits and values are as diverse as those who appreciate it. One thing is certain: wilderness is a rare and precious resource valued by many but understood by few. Take the time to learn all you can about wilderness to get more out of your wilderness experiences.

Before your next visit to any wilderness, be wilderness wise and “know before you go.” Remember, wilderness is wild and you are responsible for your personal safety. Take this responsibility seriously!

The High Uintas Wilderness is a deceptively fragile place and is being literally “loved to death” by a growing number of visitors. With increasing use and impacts to natural resources, many visitors are also having difficulty finding the wilderness experiences they seek. Please Leave No Trace of your visit, respect restrictions, and help keep the wilderness wild for future generations.

For more information, for free educational materials, or to schedule a presentation for your group, contact the Forest Service.

What is Wilderness

Wilderness is designated by Congress to protect places with unique primeval character from an ever-expanding human civilization. It is managed to preserve its natural conditions and “wildness” and provide opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation. Wilderness offers sanctuary for wildlife, protects watersheds, and is a living link to the past. It preserves a piece of a lost landscape and is of great ecological, historical, scientific, recreational, and spiritual value.

The Forest Service manages the largest number of wilderness areas, but the National Park Service manages the most acres of wilderness. All four Federal land management agencies manage wilderness:

Wilderness: An American Legacy

Wilderness is an indispensable part of American history. Native Americans depended on the bounty of wildlands for survival and held Earth and its wild places as sacred. The great western explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were inspired by the untamed beauty of wild places that became the forge upon which our distinctive American national character was created. After just 200 years from the time of Lewis and Clark, the essential wildness of America had virtually disappeared. As Americans realized that the long-term health, welfare, and character of the nation were at risk, a vision for conservation emerged.

In 1964 our nation's leaders formally acknowledged the immediate and lasting benefits of wild places to the human spirit and fabric of our nation. That year, in a nearly unanimous vote, Congress enacted landmark legislation that permanently protected some of the most natural and undisturbed places remaining in America. The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the National Wilderness Preservation System to "secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness."

Wilderness contributes to the ecologic, economic, and social health and well being of our citizens, our country, and our world. The benefits wilderness areas provide are as diverse as the areas themselves and are highly valued. Recognizing these diverse values opens a world of understanding about our natural world. In addition to the unique recreational opportunities available in wilderness, the Wilderness Act specified that it "may also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value."

When the Wilderness Act was passed in 1964, 54 areas (9.1 million acres) in 13 states were designated as wilderness. These areas founded the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). Since 1964, the NWPS has grown almost every year and now includes 677 areas (106,498,016 acres) in 44 states. The High Uintas Wilderness was added to the NWPS in 1984 with the passage of the Utah Wilderness Act. Despite the growth of the NWPS, wilderness currently makes up less than 5% of the United States. Growing public demand, shrinking wildlands, and rising threats to wilderness resources from within and without accentuate the value and tenuous nature of wilderness in the 21st century.

The United States was the first country in the world to define and designate wilderness areas through law. Subsequently, countries around the world have followed suit. Wilderness is part of our history and heritage and is passed as a legacy to future generations. Indispensable to the American past, the wilderness legacy will remain indispensable to the American future.

For more information on wilderness values, education and training, or specific wilderness areas, visit Wilderness.net. This website is the information clearinghouse for the entire National Wilderness Preservation System.

Wilderness Wise

Wilderness is wild! The High Uintas Wilderness was designated to provide you and future generations with the benefits of an enduring primitive resource that is unimpaired by human civilization. Expect to encounter the challenges and risks of changing weather, rugged terrain, and other natural hazards. You are responsible for your personal outdoor safety. Be prepared!

People visit wilderness in search of a special experience that is literally defined by its wild character. The wilderness experience is truly unique, but it can be very challenging and it’s not for everyone. If your activity is not “wilderness-dependent” or you would prefer a less primitive experience, contact one of the Forest Service offices below. We would be happy to help you find an alternative destination, particularly if you have a larger group. This helps ensure a more pleasant trip for you and less impact to the experiences of wilderness visitors.

Getting Lost or Injured

Ranger Orienting Wilderness Visitors Visitors to the High Uintas Wilderness, or any remote area, should travel with a good map and possess orienteering and basic wildland survival skills. If you lack these skills, for your safety, consider a less remote destination or acquire them before your visit. Practice them someplace familiar to you before leaving on your trip. A wilderness emergency is not the time to learn them! Classes are often available through university extensions, outdoor education programs, or outdoor retailers. A motivated student can teach themselves these skills, with good instructional materials available at most outdoor retailers and bookstores.

Visitors become lost or injured in the High Uintas Wilderness every year. Remember that the wilderness is a vast and remote area, and it can be very difficult to locate or get help to a lost or injured person. Familiarize the group with the area, stay together, leave an itinerary with someone at home, have wilderness first aid skills and basic medical supplies, and be sure that every member of the group has a copy of the map and knows how to use it. Don’t become a victim!

Equipment

The wilderness can change from warm and inviting to extremely hostile if you’re poorly equipped for challenging conditions. Good outdoor equipment and the ability to use it properly can make the difference between a safe and enjoyable wilderness experience and a miserable or even life-threatening event. Purchase, borrow, or rent the right equipment. Don’t improvise!

Basic Equipment Checklist

Sleeping Bag & Pad
Tent & Ground Cloth
Rain Gear
Warm Jacket & Pants
Sun Protection
Insect Repellent
Extra Clothing
Sturdy Boots
Water Filter or Iodine
Stove & Mess Kit
Matches or Lighter
Flashlight or Headlamp
Adequate Food
Water Bottles
Trowel (For Catholes)
Toiletries
Map & Compass
First Aid & Survival Kits

Weather

Mountain weather can change rapidly at any time and is especially unpredictable in the higher elevations of the High Uintas Wilderness. Thunderstorms can move in without warning and temperatures can drop quickly. When storms threaten, avoid ridge tops, summits, open areas, and large trees or rock outcrops that may attract lightning. But, hypothermia is the most serious threat to unprepared wilderness visitors. Even if the weather is good, always pack rain gear and a jacket and pants to keep you dry and warm in the worst conditions.

Water

Water Filter Water sources in the High Uintas Wilderness are plentiful and among the purest in the West, but the water may still be unsafe to drink. Giardia, cryptosporidium, and other nasty waterborne microbes may be present at any time in any water source. Filter, purify, treat, or boil all drinking water.

Snowmelt can swell rivers and streams during the heat of the day, especially in early summer, and snow remaining on mountain passes can be hard and icy or soft and unstable. Use extreme caution when crossing rivers, streams, and snowfields. This is where most wilderness accidents occur.

Wildlife

The High Uintas Wilderness is rich in biological diversity and is home to many species of wildlife. Unfortunately, grizzly bears and wolves are no longer among them. The only large predators remaining are mountain lions and black bears and human conflicts with these animals in the wilderness are very rare. But, they are possible so be Bear Aware!

Mountain lions (cougars) are very reclusive and generally don’t present a serious threat to humans. Very rarely, however, they have been known to attack lone hikers, pets, and small children. Bear Aware hiking, camping, and food storage practices are recommended in cougar country.

Black bears are common in the lower elevations of the Uinta Mountains but are rarely seen in the higher altitudes of High Uintas Wilderness. Unless threatened, sick, or habituated to humans they are usually secretive and try to avoid people. Nevertheless, Bear Aware hiking, camping, and food storage practices are recommended, if only to avoid losing your food to smaller critters. These clever camp thieves have left many campers hungry and short of food.

Moose are often seen in the High Uintas Wilderness, especially the on the North Slope. These huge and strangely beautiful animals are fun to watch, but they are unpredictable and can be ill-tempered. They have been known to attack humans who get too close. Watch from a safe distance!

A number of smaller and often more troublesome creatures are also found in the High Uintas Wilderness, including: ticks, venomous spiders, mosquitoes, and other biting or stinging insects. Common in the surrounding high desert basins, rattlesnakes and scorpions are sometimes seen in the lower elevations of the Uinta Mountains but are rarely found in the High Uintas Wilderness.

Any wild animal can be dangerous if threatened, sick, or habituated to humans. Watch from a safe distance, do not feed, and never approach a wild animal. Pets and small children should be carefully controlled in wilderness to keep them and the wildlife safe. If this is not possible, leave them at home.

For helpful tips on choosing food, packing up, hiking, and sleeping warm, see our Backcountry Travel Tips. Less experienced visitors may benefit from this collection of lessons learned by some of our wilderness rangers.

Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace is a national program designed to assist visitors with their decisions when they travel and camp on America’s public wildlands. The program is designed to educate visitors about their recreational impacts and to offer techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. Leave No Trace is an educational program based on outdoor ethics, not a set of rules and regulations, though many wildland areas have enacted similar regulations. The Leave No Trace program is widely regarded as an important wilderness management tool has partnered with and been adopted by all four Federal land management agencies:

Seven Principles of Leave No Trace

Plan Ahead & Prepare
Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Plan Ahead and Prepare

Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you plan to visit.
Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
Visit in small groups. Split larger parties into separate groups of 4-6.
Repackage food to minimize waste, weight, and bulk.
Use a map and compass to avoid using flagging, paint, or other markers.

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

Durable surfaces include existing trails/campsites, rock, gravel, or snow.
Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from water.
Stay on the trail. Do not shortcut trail switchbacks.
Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.
In popular areas:
- Concentrate use on existing trails/campsites.
- Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
- Keep campsites small. Focus activity where vegetation is absent.
In pristine areas:
- Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.
- Widely disperse use to avoid creating new trails/campsites.

Dispose of Waste Properly

Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect camp and rest areas for trash or food scraps.
Bury solid human waste in catholes 6-8 inches deep and at least 200 feet from water, campsites, and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.
Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
To wash yourself or dishes, carry water 200 feet away from water sources and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Widely scatter strained dishwater.

Leave What You Find

Preserve the past. Examine, but don’t touch, historic structures and artifacts.
Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you find them.
Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species. Use weed-free feed.
Do not build structures, furniture, rafts, or rock cairns and do not dig trenches.

Minimize Campfire Impacts

Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a camp stove for cooking and a candle lantern for light.
Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
Burn all coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter the cool ashes.

Respect Wildlife

Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
Never feed wildlife. Feeding wild animals threatens their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators.
Protect wildlife and your food by storing food and trash securely.
Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.

Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
Take breaks and camp well away from trails and other visitors.
Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices, music, and other noise.

For more information on outdoor skills and ethics or to purchase educational or training materials, visit Leave No Trace. To arrange a free Leave No Trace presentation for your group, contact the Forest Service.

Contacts