Your Backcountry
35,020,000 acres
Of the best public hunting and fishing are right in your backyard. Click on the graphic to see what roadless areas are in your state.
Oregon
25%
Of Oregon’s 62 million acres are Forest Service lands
12%
Of Oregon’s Forest Service land is inventoried roadless area
Pelican Butte
At just over 8,000 feet high and 11,000 acres, Pelican Butte is a workhorse for sportsmen.
Nevada
8%
Of Nevada’s 70 million acres are Forest Service lands
55%
Of Nevada’s Forest Service land is inventoried roadless area
Wyoming
15%
Of Wyoming’s 62.6 million acres are Forest Service lands
35%
Of Wyoming’s Forest Service land is inventoried roadless area
Southern Wind River Range
Almost 158,000 acres located west of Lander in Central Wyoming.
Colorado
22%
Of Colorado’s 66.6 million acres are Forest Service lands
30%
Of Colorado’s Forest Service land is inventoried roadless area
Troublesome
Almost 87,000 acres located along both sides of the Rabbit Ears Range which divides North Park and Middle Park of Colorado
Utah
15%
Of Utah’s 54 million acres are Forest Service lands
50%
Of Utah’s Forest Service land is inventoried roadless area
Boulder Mountain
Situated at the base of Boulder Mountain, nestled between (and within) land of the BLM, Forest Service, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
California
20.7%
Of California’s 102 million acres is national forest.
21%
Of California’s national forest is inventoried roadless area
Meiss Meadows
Meiss Meadows straddles the Sierra crest atop Carson Pass, just south of iconic Lake Tahoe
New Mexico
11%
Of New Mexico’s 78 million acres is public Forest Service land
17%
Of New Mexico’s Forest Service land is inventoried roadless area
Peloncillo Roadless Area
56,500 acres which are part of the larger, 88,000 acre Peloncillo Ecosystem Management Area in the “Boot Heel” region of southwest New Mexico.
Arizona
15%
Of Arizona’s 73 million acres are Forest Service lands
10%
Of Arizona’s Forest Service land is inventoried roadless area
Montana
17%
Of Montana’s 94 million acres are Forest Service lands
40%
Of Montana’s Forest Service land is inventoried roadless area
Idaho
38%
Of Idaho’s 53.4 million acres are Forest Service lands
45%
Of Idaho’s Forest Service land is inventoried roadless area
Bear Creek Roadless Area
118,000 acres in Bonneville County just east of Idaho Falls and west of the Wyoming border.
Washington
20%
Of Washington’s 45 million acres are Forest Service lands
20%
Of Washington’s Forest Service land is inventoried roadless area
See Our Map To View Roadless Areas
State by State
Click on the links to learn more about the role the backcountry plays in your state:
Arizona • Colorado • Idaho • Montana • Nevada • Oregon • Utah • Washington • Wyoming • California
Roadless areas affect us all
If you think roadless areas don’t impact you, think again. These areas are interspersed throughout the West, and chances are you’ve run across one or two in your time afield.
And even if you’ve never set foot in one of these pristine places, their importance affects us all. As the headwaters for a multitude of rivers which supply urban areas downstream, roadless lands play an important role in delivering consistently clean water. For the sportsmen who prefer to hunt the front country, many of the bulls and bucks they see spend at least a portion of their time in the secure habitat provided in the backcountry. And for those who don’t venture far from home but like to step outside and appreciate a breath of fresh air? Guess where much of that clean air comes from? That’s right, the backcountry.
What’s at stake in your state?
Roadless areas mean a lot to people. But they mean even more to wildlife. For instance, in Colorado, 71 percent of the state’s Colorado River cutthroat trout habitat is situated in roadless areas. In Idaho, 74 percent of steelhead watersheds reside in roadless areas. In Wyoming, 67 percent of Yellowstone Cutthroat habitat is in roadless areas.
But far beyond the statistics is the overwhelming fact that these kinds of figures are found in all western states. The map above shows a general outline of roadless areas across the West. Mouse over your state to learn what’s at stake. Then stop by our “Get Involved” page to get more information or learn how you can help keep the backcountry like it is.