Wilderness

 

The beauty of Death Valley Wilderness is truly humbling.

NPS/E. Letterman

 

Death Valley Wilderness

Death Valley National Park contains the largest wilderness in the contiguous United States (over 3,190,400 acres or roughly 93% of the park!). Death Valley Wilderness, a designated wilderness area, was created by the California Desert Protection Act in 1994 and has grown over the years with the passing of additional acts and with new land aquisitions.

Today, nearly a thousand miles of paved and dirt roads intersect the wilderness, providing access to all but the most remote locations. In fact, many of the most popular places in the park, such as Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and Badwater Basin are designated wilderness and are accessible by paved road!

 

It is easy to find solitude in the vast wilderness of Death Valley National Park.

NPS/E. Letterman

The History of Wilderness

Wilderness, as defined in the Wilderness Act of 1964, is land "protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable."

During the late 1800s, Americans became concerned with the rapid development of natural resources and disappearance of wild places, which led to government protection of early national parks such as Yellowstone and Sequoia. These parks were primarily set aside for their scenic qualities.

By the 1930s, the complexity and importance of entire ecosystems was being studied. Parks such as Everglades in Florida were created to preserve wildlife habitat and the natural processes which support them. As technologies of the 1950s made it easier for more people to access backcountry locations, the federal government, working with conservation groups, sought ways to expand protection of the nation's ever-decreasing wilderness lands. These efforts resulted in the passing of The Wilderness Act of 1964.

 

The Wilderness Act of 1964 protects natural places from development

"In order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the United States and its possessions, leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the Congress to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness."

 

Duration:

2 minutes, 50 seconds

The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the National Wilderness Preservation System, a national network of more than 800 federally-designated wilderness areas. These wilderness areas are managed by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and US Forest Service.

 

Indigenous artist Thomas “Breeze” Marcus

Happy Birthday, Wilderness!

This year celebrates the 60th anniversary of the signing of The Wilderness Act of 1964, which protects designated areas with wilderness characteristics from development. How will you celebrate?

 

Today, there are more than 109 million acres of federally protected wilderness in 44 states. Although this may seem like a huge area, it is only about 5% of the land in the United States. Check out the maps on Wilderness Connect to see the extent of wilderness in Death Valley National Park or to find a wilderness area near you.

 

 

Why is Wilderness Important?

The benefits of wilderness have been cited for centuries. William Shakespeare noted that "one touch of nature makes all the world kin" and nineteenth century American philosopher Henry David Thoreau declared "in wilderness is the preservation of the world."

Wilderness areas provide beauty, solitude and inspiration and can invoke a sense of responsibility to protect the Earth while providing opportunities for discovery and wonder. Time spent in wilderness and outdoor places has been tied with improved mental health and reduction of stress.

Unaffected by humans, natural processes in wilderness provide us with clean air, soil and water. Large expanses of undisturbed habitat are important to the survival of plant and animal species and provide an ecological baseline from which to understand the impact of humans on nature. Many important historic and cultural sites and artifacts are protected from disturbance in wilderness. Wilderness can also lead to economic benefits as it often brings tourism to local communities.

 

A backpacker explores the secrets of the remote Cottonwood-Marble Loop route.

NPS

How to Explore Death Valley Wilderness

People started exploring the Death Valley area long before wilderness was given the definition we have today. The Timbisha Shoshone people have been here since time immemorial, miners have search for riches in the valleys and mountains and early tourists came to experience "Hell on Earth."

Now you have an opportunity to become part of the story of Death Valley Wilderness! Wilderness means many things to many people. Some consider a trip into the park’s remote and undeveloped backcountry the only way to seek wilderness, while others may consider a picnic on the dunes at Mesquite Flats the perfect way to enjoy wilderness.

What is your ideal wilderness experience? Check out these resources to help plan your next wilderness adventure:

• Park Newspaper
• Backcountry and Wilderness Access Map
• Day Hiking
• Backpacking
• Backcountry Driving
• Backcountry Car Camping
• Accessibility

 

While vehicles are not allowed in wilderness, in many places Death Valley Wilderness begins just 50 feet from the road; enjoying wilderness can be as easy as finding a pull-off, walking a short distance and soaking up the sights, sounds and smells of nature.

NPS/Kurt Moses

Although there are few maintained trails, the well-prepared traveler will find a lifetime's worth of exploring in Death Valley National Park. Even a short walk away from the road will immerse you in the solitude and silence that defines the Death Valley wilderness experience. If you're planning a longer trip, be sure to tell someone outside the park where you're going and fill out a free Wilderness/Backcountry Permit.

 

Duration:

4 minutes, 38 seconds

Follow a group of students from the University of California Merced on their first overnight trip into the wilderness of Death Valley National Park.

 

What Degrades Wilderness?

Wilderness is preserved for all of us, however there are many things which can harm wilderness and detract from our enjoyment of this valuable resource. Click the images below to learn about some of the biggest threats to Death Valley Wilderness.

 

 

How Can You Help Protect Wilderness?

You can be a good steward of wilderness by following Leave No Trace, teaching others how to behave respectfully in wilderness and reporting illegal actvity to park rangers.

 

Not done exploring?

Learn more about Wilderness