Idaho’s Wilderness Study Areas

Experiencing

Your

Wilderness

Study Areas

Please keep these ti ps in mind when you 

visit WSAs: 

—Plan ahead and tell someone where you

—are going.

—Contact the local BLM offi ce for area maps 

—or informati on. 

—Take care of your trash and belongings. If you 

—pack it in, make sure you pack it out.

Managing WSAs takes everyone’s help and 

cooperati on. Thanks for your interest in Idaho’s 

natural resources. For more informati on please 

visit our web site.

www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/

wilderness_study_areas.html

Domesti c livestock grazing

Mule deer

Wildfi re

Gooding City of Rocks WSA, BLM Shoshone Field Offi ce
What acti viti es can take place in WSAs?

Grazing

Domesti c livestock grazing may conti nue as it 

took place before October 21, 1976.

Recreati on

Most recreati on acti viti es, including hiking, 

cross country skiing, river running, horseback 

riding and rock-hounding are allowed in WSAs. 

Primiti ve camping is allowed and BLM encourages 

campers to follow Leave No Trace practi ces when 

camping in WSAs. Hunti ng and fi shing are also 

allowed in accordance with the Idaho Fish and 

Game regulati ons.

Motorized and Bicycle Use

Motorized and mechanized travel is limited to 

designated roads and trails and to designated 

sand dunes or snow areas. Cross-country travel is 

prohibited.

Cultural Resources

Such resources may be viewed and photographed; 

however, arti facts, paleontological resources, and 

historic sites on all public lands, including WSAs, 

are protected by law. Removal or defacing of any 

such resource is illegal.

Wildfi re

Suppression may take place, using cauti on to 

avoid unnecessary impairment to the wilderness 

characteristi cs.

Wood Gathering

Dead and downed wood can be gathered for 

onsite campfi res but not for off site use.

Emergencies

Search and rescue can take place in WSAs.

What is a Wilderness Study Area?

In 1976 Congress instructed the Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM), in the Federal Land Policy 

and Management Act, to inventory public land 

for areas that meet the minimum criteria for 

wilderness designati on under the Wilderness 

Act of 1964. These areas are called Wilderness 

Study Areas (WSAs).

Criteria for WSA designati on are:

—outstanding opportuniti es for solitude

—primiti ve, unconfi ned recreati on

—ecological, geological, or other features of

—scienti fi c, scenic or historical value

—in natural conditi on substanti ally uninfl uenced 

—by humans

Congress also asked the BLM to provide recommendati ons about which areas would be most 

suitable for designati on as wilderness. Aft er a 

15-year study process, the BLM completed the 

Idaho Wilderness Study Report in 1991. The 

Report identi fi ed 67 WSAs within the state. 

The BLM is required to manage WSAs so they 

remain suitable for wilderness designati on unti l 

Congress decides to offi cially designate the land 

as wilderness or to release it for other purposes.

Why are WSAs important?

—WSAs can provide essenti al habitat for wildlife.

—WSAs provide unmodifi ed lands for future 

—generati ons.

—WSAs are places where we can connect with 

—the past and where we can be reminded of 

—how the American fronti er helped to shape 

—our present-day culture.

Deep Creek, BLM Owyhee Field Offi ce

K. Jones, Idaho Statesman