Wilderness areas are designated lands in national and state parks that are largely untouched by human development and are managed to preserve natural ecological processes, biodiversity, and opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation. They are protected by laws and regulations that limit human use and impact to maintain the character of the area.
Many national and state parks in the United States have these areas within their borders, such as:
- Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, which has several wilderness areas that protect the park’s natural landscapes, wildlife, and thermal features.
- Yosemite National Park in California, which contains the Ansel Adams Wilderness, a protected area that covers over 200,000 acres and is known for its granite cliffs, valleys, and high-country meadows
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee, which protects over half of the park’s land area and is known for its rugged terrain, dense forests, and diverse wildlife.
Wilderness areas in national and state parks are often used for hiking, backpacking, camping, and other primitive recreational activities, but they are also protected to preserve the natural ecological processes, biodiversity, and opportunities for solitude. The use of mechanized vehicles, such as cars and bikes, is not allowed in wilderness areas, and the number of visitors is restricted to protect the wilderness character of the area.