A backcountry traveler often has their own criteria for what may be considered a desired area for backpacking. This criteria often includes scenic beauty, memorable vistas, and a place where a person is immersed in the backcountry.

For some backcountry travelers there are some additional criteria sought, however: Remoteness, unknown areas, lightly traveled, and wildness. In many of our designated Wilderness lands the last set of criteria is sometimes hard to find.

Well known areas such as the Indians Peaks Wilderness in Colorado or the Desolation Wilderness in California have busy trailheads, full campsites and feel more like a well-used national park at times than a remote wilderness area.

For those who seek wildness with their wilderness experience, there is another option. Something best found by looking at maps, Google satellite views, and backcountry road atlases.

Places where you’ll wonder:

What is this place like?

Are there trails there?

What are the highlights of this area?

How can I find out more?

This other choice?

Wilderness Study Areas.

What is a Wilderness Study Area?

A Wilderness Study Area (WSA) is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) area that contains undeveloped United States federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, and managed to preserve its natural conditions.

Beyond that, a WSA must have the following characteristics summarized from the BLM:

• Size – a roadless area of at least 5,000 public acres or a manageable size.
• Naturalness – affected primarily by the forces of nature.
• Opportunities – provides outstanding opportunities for solitude and recreation.

With 12.6 million acres of WSA lands available for public use in many of the Western US states, that is a lot of land to hike, camp, backpack, and explore.

But the technical details of the definition really do not clearly define what a WSA is truly about. On a management level, it means that there is, frankly, not enough money and/or political capital to have the area become a designated Wilderness Area. In real-life terms, a WSA is generally lightly maintained if at all.

Many, but not all of the WSAs, will have the same regulations of designated Wilderness lands. Mostly this means no mechanized transport allowed and what roads, and even trails, are being reclaimed by Nature. Unlike designated Wilderness lands, the trails are often non-existent. The use tends to be low. And there is rarely a handy National Geographic map covering the area in detail.

A WSA is often wilderness AND wildness. For the backcountry traveler who wants to be immersed in wild areas, the WSAs are sublime.

How to Find Wilderness Study Areas?

The BLM Wilderness Study Area website has helpful information that lists the WSAs by state. And each of those WSAs will have a sub-site on the main BLM site itself. A good first place for initial research.

For the more obscure areas, even the best Google searching will often turn up little information beyond the BLM site itself for a specific area. Only bits and pieces of information found here and there. Clues found on old websites with often defunct links. Maybe an archived book or two found online that is twenty or more years old.

For most WSAs, a person has to be willing to do their own research. And be willing to go beyond spoon fed information.

Where to Get This WSA Information?

The BLM office may have some information, but it is typically not much more in depth than what was found on the BLM site initially.

The first step beyond the initial BLM search is to procure a Benchmark Atlas or a Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer for the corresponding state. These backcountry road atlases assist in pinpointing the WSA access a bit more closely. What roads lead to them? General location of any trailheads? Any maintained, or not, roads in the WSA? Are there any private land issues?

The next step is to pore over topographic and perhaps BLM maps for a larger view. The finer details are needed to plot out a route. For the WSA areas outside of the more populated areas of California and Colorado, there is typically scant information available for any routes in the specific WSA. Astute reading of the maps is needed. Only some map reading will let you plan out the route, scope out water resources, potential campsites, and maybe even where an old pack trail may be located. CalTopo or the CalTopo App is an excellent online resource for topo maps. The basics of this website are free with a subscription service available for more advanced features.

Beyond the backcountry road atlases and the topo maps, a newer tool in the trip planning arsenal is Google Earth satellite views found on Google Maps. Google Earth is very helpful and scoping out the terrain, finding possible parking places, and even potential camping spots.

What Techniques are Needed for Exploring These Areas?

WSAs are best explored by experienced backpackers looking for a little more of a challenge. The lack of defined trails in many of these areas means more scrambling and bushwhacking than most outdoors areas. Route finding skills are needed. A backpacker should be very comfortable with off-trail travel.

Map reading and map and compass navigation skills are essential, using paper maps and possibly supplemented by use of electronic navigation. Being flexible is also an essential trait for exploring these areas. A route that looks fine on paper may have more blowdowns, talus, and scree that slows down travel. An alternate route made up on the fly may be needed.

A good set of backpacking experience is needed, too. Water management, being able to pick out a good camp site, and reading the land on an intimate level are all some of the needed skills.

Many of these areas are located in places very much off the beaten path. A vehicle with good ground clearance is sometimes needed to access the WSA. Conservative driving is advised as what is fairly benign area in dry and sunny weather can be a muddy mess that will stop even most 4WD vehicles. The previously mentioned Google Earth views are especially helpful with this aspect of WSA trips.

At the end, a trip in the WSA lands require more skills and planning than pulling up to a trailhead and following a well-defined trail with many blazes or other markings, ample guidebooks, and other resources.

Why Go to Wilderness Study Areas?

The rewards for all the research, more difficult hiking, and being more aware of environmental conditions are makes going to a WSA rewarding.

The beauty is isolated. You will not be on a peak with dozens of people waiting to pose for a summit photo. The “trailheads” are often quiet with more livestock than people to be found. Wildlife abounds.

And there is something immensely satisfying about planning route, actually backpacking it and then looking back at what was accomplished. If you revel in places both obscure and beautiful that are also remote and rewarding, you will love WSAs.

Some Wilderness Study Areas to Explore

With hundreds of WSAs in existence, there are many of these places to see. Here are a few I’ve personally been to that some may enjoy.

Little Bookcliffs Wilderness Study Area

A very good WSA to explore for those used to a traditionally trailed system. Mountain bike paths and jeep roads surround (but are not directly in) the area. The mountain bikes trails and the jeep roads aren’t heavily used. Parts surrounding the WSA are even prohibited from mechanized travel until June, in fact. There are actual hiking trails in the WSA itself. A major trailhead is well maintained and easily accessible off Interstate 70 in Colorado.

The WSA features canyons, wonderful desert wildflowers, and a herd of wild horses.

The WSA is even mapped out on National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map #208. Less planning is needed and research to be done for this WSA versus more obscure ones.

Though the WSA is somewhat popular with day hikers from the Grand Junction, CO area, the backcountry is comparatively empty.

Little Bookcliffs makes an excellent spring or fall hike when the Colorado high country is still full of snow.

Grape Creek Wilderness Study Area

Technically two different WSAs, the Grape Creek Wilderness Study Area is that rare Colorado foothills ecosystem that allows overnight use. Grape Creek flows from the Wet Mountains and into the high and arid plain-like areas surrounding Canon City, Colorado.

There are no trails, but the creek can be followed if a person is used to some scrambling and does not mind getting their feet wet! An old railbed can be found here and there within the area. Highlights include memorable rock formations, very good fishing, and quiet camping. Another WSA perfect for spring or fall use.

Adobe Town Wilderness Study Area

If the Colorado WSAs are above are a good introduction to WSAs, then Adobe Town WSA is an area that demands much research.

Where to camp is not readily apparent. Four-wheel drive and good ground clearance is almost essential, and strongly suggested, for getting into even the areas near the WSA itself. And the road conditions must be respected. The clay roads surrounding the WSA will trap most vehicles if the roads become wet.

The area is isolated. A person must be willing to be in a place without ready services. The last gas station is about fifty miles away. But what a place.

Deep canyons, hoodoos, and rock formations that seem to come out of nowhere in the sagebrush desert. Wild flowers blossom in wet springs. And pronghorn, herds of wild horses, and coyotes abound. The birding is world class with a concerto of bird songs in the morning and again at twilight. Burrowing owls are often heard, if not seen too often, as well.

Abode Town can be backpacked. But in many ways is perhaps best enjoyed as a base camp and hiking destination. Hike to and below the rims. Looks at the rock formations that are reminiscent of both the badland formations found on the High Plains and formations also found further west and south on the Colorado Plateau. Sit in the solitude and remoteness. Watch the desert sun slowly set, immerse yourself in the sagebrush desert and listen to the birds sing their evening songs. And marvel at the night sky above.

The Adobe Town WSA is much like a painting: The longer you sit and observe, the more that is revealed about it and appreciated.

Ferris Mountains Wilderness Study Area

Everything that is good and difficult about WSAs may be found in the Ferris Mountains WSA.

The area is remote and obscure. Getting to the highpoint in this area is traveling one mile-per-hour at best through blowdowns and talus slopes. And map skills are most definitely needed. You must do your own research for trips into this area.

But when you are setting on top of a namesake peak for this area and have a view of the Bighorns, the Winds, and the Medicine Bow ranges and see the Great Divide Basin before you, you’ll know why you backpack in the WSAs.

The route is difficult. The reward is an experience only some will appreciate for the effort required. But perhaps that could be said about all the Wilderness Study Areas?

Editor's Note: This article by contributor Paul Magnanti originally appeared in Issue 29 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here for additional photos and content.