Wilderness

A hiker overlooking a rocky desert landscape — Hiker enjoys a sense of solitude in the Joshua Tree Wilderness.

Established by the Wilderness Act of 1964, federally-designated wilderness is the highest level of legal protection for public lands. By law, wilderness is free from roads, buildings, mechanized equipment, and permanent human occupation. It is preserved for its wealth of values: ecological, scientific, recreational, historic, and cultural. These places are meant to be truly wild. A space reserved for wildlife to roam free. For nature to thrive on its own terms. For humans to unplug from civilization and experience solitude and connection to the natural world. Wilderness serves as a refuge to all.

Joshua Tree Wilderness

Visitors come to experience the many joys of wilderness. Taking a quiet walk through a woodland of Joshua trees. Looking out into a sea of granite boulders, cliffs, canyons, and domes, millions of years in the making. Hearing the cascading melody of a canyon wren. Smelling the creosote after a summer monsoon storm. Gazing into the dark night skies and seeing the milky way and deep space for the first time.

Experiences in wilderness provide us with inspiration, relaxation, adventure, and self-discovery. They link us to our roots in the natural world and help us understand the world around us. Humans have roamed these lands for thousands of years. The Serrano, Chemehuevi, Cahuilla, and Mohave Tribes were original stewards of the land on which Joshua Tree National Park now sits. They formed deep connections with the land and still do today. To learn more, visit the Traditionally Associated Tribes webpage or stop by the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center in Twentynine Palms and explore the "universal threads" exhibits.

Wilderness Character

The NPS’s primary mandate for managing wilderness is the same across all federal lands: to preserve wilderness character. The holistic concept of wilderness character protects the biophysical environment, personal experiences, and the symbolic meanings of humility, restraint, and respect. The many benefits of wilderness are rooted in its character preservation. This concept of wilderness character includes five tangible qualities:

Two hikers traveling through a rocky desert environment — People walk through the Joshua Tree Wilderness.

Natural: Ecological systems are substantially free from the effects of modern civilization and managed to preserve it's natural conditions.

Untrammeled: Ecological systems are unhindered and free from the intentional actions of modern human control or manipulation.

Undeveloped: Wilderness retains its primeval character and influence and is essentially without permanent improvements or human habitation.

Solitude or Primitive and Unconfined Recreation: Wilderness provides opportunities for visitors to find solitude and to challenge themselves with a primitive and unconfined type of recreation

Other Features of Value: Wilderness may also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value.

Managing Wilderness

Joshua Tree National Park manages a total of 795,155 acres, or 1,242 square miles. Of the total area, nearly 84% is managed as wilderness. This includes 595,364 acres of "designated wilderness" (known as the Joshua Tree Wilderness), 70,538 of "potential wilderness", and 402 acres of "proposed wilderness." Designated wilderness is managed in accordance with federal law and is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. For land to become designated wilderness, a Congressional act must signed into law by the President of the United States. Potential wilderness and proposed wilderness are managed to preserve their wilderness character according to NPS policy rather than federal law. More information about the multiple categories of wilderness in the NPS are available.

a map showing the wilderness areas of Joshua Tree National Park — Map of Joshua Tree National Park and the wilderness areas within.

Timeline

1964 - The Wilderness Act becomes law, establishing the National Wilderness Preservation System.
1976 - Public Law 94-567 designated wilderness lands in 13 national parks and monuments. Joshua Tree National Monument had 429,690 acres (about 80% of the park) of wilderness created by this act.
1994 - The California Desert Protection Act changed Joshua Tree from a national monument to a national park. It also added 163,800 acres of designated wilderness and proposed wilderness.
2009 - The Omnibus Public Land Management Act (Pub.L. 111-11) granted the wilderness designation to approximately 36,700 acres of land that had previously been identified as potential wilderness.
2013 - Director's Order #41 supplements Management Policies 2006, Chapter 6, Wilderness Preservation and Management. Together with Reference Manual 41, this Order supersedes and replaces any conflicting guidance issued previously.

Experience Joshua Tree Wilderness

Wilderness Backpacking

Camp out under the stars and explore the quieter side of Joshua Tree.
Rock Climbing

Experience the adventure of climbing on backcountry cliffs and domes.
Hiking & Scrambling

Discover the magical world of wilderness.

Learn More about Wilderness

Wilderness in the NPS

From Alaska to Florida, wilderness can be found in arid deserts, cypress swamps, alpine meadows, sandy beaches, and rocky crags.
Wilderness Character

The term "wilderness character" was first referenced in the 1964 Wilderness Act. Learn more this unique concept.
Benefits of Federal Wilderness

Wilderness offers many benefits. These environmental, cultural, social, and economic benefits are available for everyone to enjoy.