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50 national parks have designated wilderness, totaling more than 44 million acres. The Sleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness in Michigan, designated in 2014, is the newest NPS designated wilderness area. In 2019, the Death Valley Wilderness was expanded as part of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act.
Grand Canyon National Park Proposed Wilderness
NPS/Alicia Burton
Other Categories of Wilderness
Many national parks have "other categories of wilderness" - lands not designated, but managed as wilderness per NPS policy. This includes the categories of eligible, proposed, recommended, and potential wilderness. Together with NPS designated wilderness, this means over 80 percent of all NPS lands are managed as wilderness.
Park-Specific Wilderness Webpages
Are you looking for wilderness information about a specific national park? Check out this list of park-specific wilderness webpages to learn more. And check back often as this list will continue to grow!