The original Long Swamp inventoried area was larger, but the northern portion of the area was added to the Pasayten Wilderness in the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act. The goal of the management area is to provide habitat to support a stable lynx population over time while accessing the area for the purpose of growing and producing merchantable wood fibre.
Road construction is permitted with restrictions to protect lynx.
Other lands in the inventoried roadless area are allocated to scenery and research natural area. The topography varies greatly within the area. The western portion is characterized by deep canyons with moderately steep slopes, topped by rounded or benched ridgetops. The majority of the area is characterized by high, gentle ridges and meadows, but a number of streams have cut steep, deep canyons. Elevations range from 2,000 to 7450 feet.