BLM

GUIDE

WYOMING

Public Land

www.blm.gov/wy
Public Land

 What is Public Land?

Federal Land

For purposes of this brochure, public land 

means any land managed by either the 

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

or by the

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

(National Forests and National Grasslands)

These lands are generally open to public 

recreational use, including hunting and 

fishing, subject to the regulations of the 

managing agency.

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Wyoming is a mixture of public, state 

and private land, each with different 

laws and regulations. So, use common 

sense. Know where you are at all times. 

Ask first before entering private land. 

Observe signs and posted areas. Avoid 

travel that will cause damage to the 

land. Don’t litter. Leave all gates the way 

you found them.

In other words...be a good neighbor. 

Respect both public and private land.
State Land

Almost all of the 3.6 million surface acres 

of Wyoming’s state-owned lands are “trust 

lands.” “Trust lands” are managed to 

produce income for the state’s schools and 

public institutions.

In general, the Wyoming Board of Land 

Commissioners (Board) has granted 

the public the privilege of using legally 

accessible state lands, other than 

cultivated croplands, for hunting, fishing 

and casual day-use recreation. The lands 

must have legal access, and public users 

must comply with the regulations of the 

Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners 

(Board). These regulations prohibit any 

off-road motor vehicle use, overnight 

camping, or open fires. Activities which 

would damage state lands, roads, 

improvements or lessee property interests 

are also prohibited. Motor vehicle use is 

restricted to established roads. Established 

roads as defined by the Board, means any 

roads or trails which have been graded 

or constructed to carry vehicular traffic, 

or on which repeated vehicular traffic has 

created well defined tracks. The Board 

may close specific State land roads and 

areas to public use on a permanent, 

temporary, or seasonal basis. While lessee 

permission is not required to use legally 

accessed state lands, public users are 

encouraged to notify state grazing lessees 

as a courtesy, whenever it is reasonably 

possible to do so.

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 What are the rights of the 

public to cross private lands to 

access public land?

The public may cross private lands to 

access public lands when a public road or 

right-of-way (easement) for public access 

exists across the private lands. In all 

other circumstances, the public must first 

obtain permission from the landowner to 

cross private lands. The landowner is not 

obligated to grant such permission.

 What does the law say with 

regard to corner crossing?

There is no specific state or federal 

laws regarding corner crossings. Corner 

crossings in the checkerboard land pattern 

area or elsewhere are not considered legal 

public access.

 Do public lands in the 

checkerboard or in other 

intermingled land ownership 

areas have public access?

Public access to public lands is often 

limited in the checkerboard and in other 

public and private intermingled land 

ownership areas in Wyoming. If there is a 

public road or a right-a-way (easement) for 

public access through the checkerboard or 

intermingled land, then the public has legal 

access to the public land crossed by the 

public road.

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 Q What are the rights and 

privileges of lessees and 

permittees on federal lands?

Federal grazing leases or permits 

authorize livestock grazing on public lands. 

Like any other private landowner, a federal 

grazing lessee or permittee can control 

access across his private property.

A private landowner holding a grazing 

lease or permit from the BLM or 

Forest Service does not have to allow 

or provide public access across his 

private property as a condition of the 

lease or permit.

Permittees have no authority to control 

access on or use of public land, nor can 

permittees restrict travel over a public road 

or a road with an easement that allows 

public travel. Lessees and permittees are 

not allowed to charge the public for the 

privilege of using public lands.

In addition to federal grazing leases, 

both BLM and Forest Service authorize 

a variety of other uses with a number 

of different types of authorizations. In 

general, holders of these authorizations 

may not exclude the public from the public 

lands within their lease or permit area, if 

appropriate public easements exist. They 

do have the right to exclude the public 

from entering any buildings they may have 

been authorized to construct under the 

terms of their authorization. Additionally, 

some areas may be closed to public entry 

by order of the federal land management 

agency. An example of this is a mining 

operation that has been closed for reasons 

of public safety.
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 What are the rights and 

privileges of lessees and 

permittees on state lands?

Lessees on state lands have specific rights 

and privileges under their leases, such as 

using the land for grazing and agricultural 

purposes. There are also special use 

leases issued for non-agricultural purposes 

on state land. A state lessee does 

not have to allow or provide public 

access across his private property as a 

condition of the lease.

Lessees, and others, are not allowed 

to charge for or receive payments from 

persons engaged in hunting, fishing or 

other recreational use of state lands, 

unless specifically authorized to do so 

under a special use lease or other Board 

authorization. Lessees cannot exclude the 

public from legally accessible state land, 

other than cultivated cropland, unless 

the land has been closed or access has 

otherwise been limited by the Board. 

However, lessees do have a legitimate 

and legal interest in protecting the forage 

they lease, protecting the condition of and 

improvements placed on state lands, and 

protecting their livestock. If public use 

privileges are abused or lessee interests 

are damaged, public uses of state lands 

will be restricted by the Board. Any closure 

or posting of state lands must be approved 

by the Board.

Lessees and permittees on land owned by 

The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission 

and the Division of State Parks and 

Historic Sites do not have the right to 

exclude the public from their lease and 

permit area.

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 Do rivers and streams offer 

legal access to public lands?

Boating or floating rivers and streams is 

allowable to access public lands, but any 

use of the stream bed or bank itself, while 

on private lands, is restricted to incidental 

contact necessary to dislodge the boat 

or circumvent hazards. All other uses of 

private land are strictly prohibited without 

permission of the private landowner.

 Can a wounded animal be 

pursued onto private land?

Wounded animals may only be pursued 

onto private land with the permission of the 

private landowner.

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 Q What are the State of 

Wyoming’s trespass laws?

Two separate Wyoming Statutes pertain to 

public trespass:

1. W.S. 6-3-303 Criminal trespass:

a. A person is guilty of criminal 

trespass if he enters or remains 

on or in the land or premises of 

another person, knowing he is 

not authorized to do so, or after 

being notified to depart or to not 

trespass. For purposes of this 

section, notice is given by:

(i) Personal communications to a 

person by the owner or occupant, 

or his agent; or by a peace office; 

or

(ii) Posting of signs reasonably 

likely to come to the attention of 

intruders.

b. Criminal trespass is a 

misdemeanor punishable by 

imprisonment for not more than 

six (6) months, a fine of not more 

than seven hundred fifty dollars 

($750), or both.
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2. W.S. 23-3-305 Hunting from 

highway; entering enclosed 

property without permission; 

hunting at night without permission 

prohibited:

a. No person shall hunt, shoot, or 

attempt to kill any wildlife from 

any public road or highway.

b. No person shall enter upon the 

private property of any person 

to hunt, fish, or trap without 

the permission of the owner or 

person in charge of the property.

c. No person shall fire any firearm 

from, upon, along, or across any 

public road or highway.

d. No person knowingly shall fire 

any rifle from the enclosed lands 

of one person onto or across 

the enclosed lands of another 

without the permission of both 

persons.

e. No person shall hunt at night 

upon privately owned or leased 

lands except with written 

permission of the landowner or 

lessee.

Violation of this statue is a 

misdemeanor punishable by 

imprisonment for not more than six (6) 

months, a fine of not more than four 

hundred dollars ($400), or both.
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 What recourses are available 

if access problems arise?

Federal Agencies

Immediately report the incident to the 

nearest Forest Service, Wyoming Game 

and Fish, or BLM field office with all the 

specifics of the incident, particularly the 

exact location where the incident occurred. 

BLM uses an “Access Problem Identification Form” to document access problems 

on public lands. A copy of this form is 

available at all BLM offices identified in 

this brochure, If you do not have a copy 

of this form, please note the location (i.e., 

legal description) of problem, describe the 

incident, and mail this information along 

with your name and address to the nearest 

BLM or Forest Service Office. This form 

can also be found on Wyoming BLM’s web 

site. www.blm.gov/wy

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State Agencies

The Office of State Lands and Investments 

will investigate state land access related 

problems and complaints, which involve 

actions that are either illegal or contrary 

to Board’s regulations and lease terms. If 

the problem/complaint can be documented 

and verified, the parties involved will be 

contacted and requested to immediately 

correct the situation. Non-compliance with 

lease terms and related Board regulations 

is grounds for lease cancellation. 

Non-compliance with the Board’s public 

use rules, such as off-road vehicle use, 

campfires, violations of any lawful order 

issued by the Board, and vandalism 

or property damage on state lands, is 

grounds for arrest by any duly authorized 

peace officer and prosecution for violation 

under pertinent Wyoming statues.

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 What is a public road?

Federal Lands

For purposes of this handbook, a public 

road is any road which is under the 

jurisdiction of the Federal Highway 

Administration, the State Highway 

Department, a county, a municipal 

government, or identified or maintained 

by one of the land management agencies 

discussed in this brochure. These roads 

are open to public travel unless closed by 

order of the agency having jurisdiction. 

Roads may be closed or use restricted 

to protect public health and safety or to 

preserve resources.

State Lands

On state land, public roads are only those 

roads identified and maintained as state, 

federal, or county roads. These roads are 

constructed on easements or rights-ofway which provide for public use. Other 

established roads on state land as defined 

by the Board are available for use by 

persons engaged in hunting, fishing and 

casual recreational use, unless closed 

or access is otherwise limited by order of 

the Board. Such roads may be closed to 

prevent resource damage, to protect other 

authorized uses, or to protect public health 

and safety.

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 How can public roads be 

identified and located?

State and some county roads are shown 

on the official Wyoming State Highway 

map. Public roads under the jurisdiction of 

land management agencies are less easy 

to identify. Public roads can normally be 

identified by signs posted on the ground 

or on BLM recreation maps. Each National 

Forest has prepared and issued or is in 

the process of preparing motor vehicle use 

maps. Information on travel management 

direction on a particular national forest 

should be obtained by contacting the 

forests directly. Topographic maps 

published by the U.S. Geological Survey 

show all roads that physically exist, and 

these maps may not differentiate between 

private and public roads. Unless a 

public agency acquires a right-of-way/

easement for the road across private 

land, a private landowner may close the 

road at any time, may be selective in 

who is allowed to use the road, or may 

charge a fee for use of the road. If you 

have any questions about whether or not a 

road is a public or a private road, make an 

inquiry at the local land managing agency 

office to avoid being denied access 

on a private road. Additional access 

information on State lands can be found at 

the state website lands.state.wy.us/.

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 What are travel management 

policies and practices of public 

agencies on roads?

Federal Lands

The majority of BLM and National Forest 

System roads that provide public access 

are open to vehicle use. However, the 

BLM and the Forest Service may regulate 

the use of all roads and lands under 

its jurisdiction to accomplish specific 

land management objectives, to protect 

resources, or for public safety. Road 

management may include restricting 

vehicle travel to designated travel ways, 

either during specific periods of time or 

for all year. It may include closing areas 

to specific modes of travel or specific 

types of vehicles. It may mean that a 

particular road is closed to vehicular 

access but is open to non-motorized uses. 

Ideally restrictions should be posted with 

signs on the ground. Road closures or 

restrictions are usually announced in local 

newspapers and news media. Information 

and maps showing restrictions are always 

available at local BLM or Forest Service 

offices, and the public can find out which 

BLM or National Forest System roads 

are open for public use by contacting the 

nearest BLM or Forest Service office.

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State Lands

Motor vehicle use on state land for 

recreation purposes is restricted to 

public roads and other established roads 

as defined by the Board. No off-road 

motor vehicle use is allowed. No new 

roads or extensions of existing roads 

may be created without specific Board 

authorization. The Board may restrict the 

use of certain established roads, or close 

such roads entirely. Such restrictions and 

closures will be posted at the direction of 

the Board.

Game and Fish Department

The majority of roads on lands owned 

by the Game and Fish Department are 

open for public use. Travel is restricted to 

established roads and some roads may be 

regulated for resource protection.

 What is a prescriptive right?

Under Wyoming state law, a prescriptive 

right-of-way may exist when use of a road 

has been open and notorious, adverse 

and continuous for 10 years. A prescriptive 

right can only be confirmed through court 

action. Prescriptive rights do not attach to 

state or federal lands.

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 What are the access 

acquisition management policies 

of federal agencies?

BLM

The Bureau of Land Management’s policy 

is to acquire legal public access to larger 

blocks of public land that have high value 

for public recreation and use. In areas 

where there are intermingled public and 

private lands, it is not always practical 

or feasible for the government to secure 

public access to all public land. BLM may 

acquire public access either by buying 

easements from willing private landowners 

or by exchanging lands to obtain public 

access. The BLM has authority to 

condemn rights-of-way for public access; 

however, the need for such action must be 

well justified, and the landowner must be 

paid just compensation.

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Forest Service

The Forest Service policy is to acquire, 

on a priority basis, rights-of-way needed 

to provide reasonable access to the 

National Forests and National Grasslands. 

Many roads that provide access to these 

lands may have been open to the public, 

courtesy of the landowner, for years.

The Forest Service does have authority to 

condemn rights-of-way for public access. 

The need for such action must, however, 

be well justified, and the landowner must 

be paid just compensation.
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 What are the access 

acquisition management policies 

of state agencies?

Access is acquired and developed for 

necessary state land management 

purposes on an as needed, case-by-case 

basis. The Office of State Lands and 

Investments also cooperates with other 

state, local and federal entities in the 

acquisition, development and management 

of access to state and federal lands.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department 

has active programs to provide public 

access for hunting and fishing. The 

Department has both long- and shortterm access easements that are used 

depending on public demand, wildlife use, 

management decisions and landowner 

cooperation. Short-term easements 

are handled through the Private Lands 

Public Wildlife (PLPW) Access Program. 

The PLPW Access Program enters into 

agreements with private landowners 

to allow hunting and/or fishing access 

from 1-5 years through either Hunter 

Management or Walk-in areas.

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Many of the larger easements allow 

vehicular access, but the smaller Walk-in 

areas are limited to foot traffic only. Identify 

the area you are interested in using to 

be sure of the rules and regulations 

associated with that particular area. For 

information concerning either Walk-in or 

Hunter Management Areas, consult the 

G&F website at gf.state.wy.us under 

Public Access – Private Lands Public 

Wildlife or contact a G&F office.

The Department also purchases lands for 

wildlife habitat management areas. These 

lands are open to public use but may have 

some seasonal or site specific restrictions 

to protect wildlife resources. Game and 

Fish Department access areas are marked 

with informational signs and permission is 

not required from lessees or permittees.
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Wyoming State Office

5353 Yellowstone Road

P.O. Box 1828

Cheyenne, WY 82003-1828

(307)775-6256

Buffalo Field Office

1425 Fort Street

Buffalo, WY 82834-2436

(307) 684-1100

Casper Field Office

2987 Prospector Drive

Casper, WY 82604-2968

(307) 261-7600

Cody Field Office

1002 Blackburn

Cody, WY 82414-8464

(307) 578-5900

Kemmerer Field Office

312 Highway 189 North

Kemmerer, WY 83101-9711

(307) 828-4500

Lander Field Office

1335 Main Street

Lander, WY 82520-2654

(307) 332-8400

INFORMATION

Bureau of Land Management

Newcastle Field Office

1101 Washington Boulevard

Newcastle, WY 82701-2968

(307) 746-6600

Pinedale Field Office

1625 West Pine Street

P.O. Box 768

Pinedale, WY 82941-0768

(307) 367-5300

Rawlins Field Office

1300 North Third

P.O. Box 2407

Rawlins, WY 82301-2407

(307) 328-4200

Rock Springs Field Office

280 Highway 191 North

Rock Springs, WY 82901-3447

(307) 352-0256

Worland Field Office

101 South 23rd Street

Worland, WY 82401-3743

(307) 347-5100
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U.S. Forest Service Offices

Supervisor Offices District Offices

Ashley National Forest Flaming Gorge (NRA)

355 North Vernal Avenue (435) 784-3445

Vernal, UT 84078

(435) 789-1181

Big Horn National Forest Powder River

2013 Eastside 2nd Street (307) 684-1100

Sheridan, WY 82801 Medicine Wheel/Paintrock

(307) 674-2600 (307) 548-6541

Tongue

(307) 674-2600

Black Hills National Forest Bearlodge

25401 North Highway 16 (307) 283-1361

Custer, SD 57730-9501 Hell Canyon (Custer/Elk Mtn)

(605) 673-9200 (307) 746-2782

Bridger-Teton National Forest Big Piney

340 N. Cache St., P.O. Box 1888 (307)276-3375

Jackson, WY 83001-1888 Blackrock

(307) 739-5500 (307) 543-2386

Greys River

(307) 886-5300

Jackson

(307) 739-5500

Kemmerer

(307) 877-4415

Pinedale

(307) 367-4326

Caribou-Targhee Soda Springs

1405 Hollipark Drive (208) 547-4356

Idaho Falls, ID 83101 Montpelier

(208) 524-7500 (208) 847-0375

West Side/Malad

(208) 766-5900

Ashton/Island Park

(208) 652-7442

Teton Basin

(208) 354-2312

Medicine Bow-Routt National Brush Creek/Hayden

Forest (including Thunder Basin (307) 326-5258

National Grasslands) (307) 327-5481

2468 Jackson Street Laramie

Laramie, WY 82070-6535 (307) 745-2300

(307) 745-2300 Douglas & Thunder Basin

National Grassland

(307)358-4690

Shoshone National Forest Washakie

808 Meadow Lane (307) 332-5460

Cody, WY 82414-4516 Wind River

(307) 527-6241 (307) 455-2466

Clarks Forks

(307) 527-6921

Greybull

(307) 527-6921

Wapiti

(307) 527-6921

Wasatch-Cache National Forest Evanston

8236 Federal Building (307) 789-3194

125 South State Street

Salt Lake City, UT 84138

(801) 524-3900
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Wyoming Game & Fish Department

Cheyenne State Headquarters

5400 Bishop Boulevard

Cheyenne, WY 82006

(307) 777-4600

Casper Region Office

3030 Energy Lane, Suite 100

Casper, WY 82604

(307) 473-3400

Cody Region Office

2820 State Highway 120

Cody, WY 82414

(307) 527-7125

Green River Region Office

351 Astle

Green River, WY 82935

(307) 875-3223

Jackson Region Office

420 North Cache

Jackson, WY 83001

(307) 733-2321

Lander Region Office

260 Buena Vista

Lander, WY 82520

(307) 332-2688

Laramie Region Office

528 South Adams

Laramie, WY 82070

(307) 745-4046

Pinedale Region Office

117 South Sublette Avenue

Pinedale, WY 82941

(800) 452-9107

Sheridan Region Office

700 Valley View Drive

P.O. Box 6249

Sheridan, WY 82801

(307) 672-7418

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State Lands Information

Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments

Herschler Building, 3rd floor, West

122 West 25th Street

Cheyenne, WY 82002-0600

(307) 777-7331

Wyoming State Forestry Division

5500 Bishop Blvd

Cheyenne, WY 82002-0060

(307) 777-7586

Other State Agencies

Division of State Parks and Historic Sites

Department of Commerce

Herschler Building, 1st floor, NE

122 West 25th Street

Cheyenne, WY 82002-0600

(307) 777-6323

This brochure was developed in cooperation with 

the following agencies:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

Wyoming Office of State Lands & Investments

Wyoming Game & Fish Department

Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites

Wyoming State Office of Governor Matt Mead
BLM/WY/AE-13/029+1430+REV 2013