Emigrant Wilderness
Area Management
The Emigrant Wilderness is part of the 110 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. This System of lands provides clean air, water, and habitat critical for rare and endangered plants and animals. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities like hiking, backpacking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, horse packing, bird watching, stargazing, and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. You play an important role in helping to "secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness" as called for by the Congress of the United States through the Wilderness Act of 1964. Please follow the requirements outlined below and use Leave No Trace techniques when visiting the Emigrant Wilderness to ensure protection of this unique area.General Wilderness Prohibitions
Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport is generally prohibited on all federal lands designated as wilderness. This includes the use of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters, unless provided for in specific legislation.In a few areas some exceptions allowing the use of motorized equipment or mechanical transport are described in the special regulations in effect for a specific area. Contact the Forest Service office or visit the websites listed on the 'Links' tab for more specific information.
These general prohibitions have been implemented for all national forest wildernesses in order to implement the provisions of the Wilderness Act of 1964. The Wilderness Act requires management of human-caused impacts and protection of the area's wilderness character to insure that it is "unimpaired for the future use and enjoyment as wilderness." Use of the equipment listed as prohibited in wilderness is inconsistent with the provision in the Wilderness Act which mandates opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation and that wilderness is a place that is in contrast with areas where people and their works are dominant.
Wilderness-Specific Regulations
Wilderness managers often need to take action to limit the impacts caused by visitor activities in order to protect the natural conditions of wilderness as required by the Wilderness Act of 1964. Managers typically implement 'indirect' types of actions such as information and education measures before selecting more restrictive measures. When regulations are necessary, they are implemented with the specific intent of balancing the need to preserve the character of the wilderness while providing for the use and enjoyment of wilderness.The following wilderness regulations are in effect for this area. Not all regulations are in effect for every wilderness. Contact the Forest Service office or visit the websites listed on the 'Links' tab for more specific information about the regulations listed.
ALL VISITORS
A Wilderness Permit is required for overnight visits from April 1 through November 30.
Group size is limited to 15 people. Affiliated groups must camp and travel separately remaining at least 1/2 mile apart. Groups should voluntarily restrict their size to eight or less when traveling off-trail to protect solitude and reduce physical impacts.
Campfires are prohibited above 9000 feet and within one-half mile of Emigrant Lake to protect sensitive whitebark pine forests and to allow recovery of areas historically depleted of firewood.
Camping is prohibited within 100 feet of lakes, streams, and trails, or where posted. This regulation helps protect delicate lakeside vegetation, preserves solitude, protects water quality, and allows recovery of closed campsites.
Disposing of body waste and wash water within 100 feet of any water source is prohibited. Follow "Leave No Trace" practices. Dig a small hole at least 6-8 inches deep and at least 100 feet from water, trails and campsites. Bury or pack out all toilet paper. Pet waste should be treated the same way.
Disposing of debris, garbage, or other waste is prohibited. Adhere to this simple principle: pack it in, pack it out. This includes bits of foil in your fire ring, burned tin cans, broken glass, pieces of rope, and cigarette butts.
Shortcutting of trail switchbacks is prohibited. Shortcutting causes erosion and diverts limited trail maintenance personnel from other needed work.
Discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun is prohibited except for hunting in accordance with state law.
Wagons, carts (including game carts and wheelbarrows), bicycles, and other motorized, mechanized, or wheeled vehicles are prohibited.
Do not leave any equipment, personal property or supplies unattended for a period in excess of 24 hours. This includes barbeque grates, geocaches, and hunting camps.
Camping for more than one night at Camp, Bear, Grouse, Powell or Waterhouse Lakes is prohibited in order to protect opportunities for solitude at these popular destinations.
STOCK USERS
Entering the wilderness with more than 25 head of pack and saddle stock is prohibited.
Tying pack and saddle stock within 100 feet of lakes, streams, trails and campsites except while loading or unloading, is prohibited.
Tying pack and saddle stock to trees, except while loading or unloading, is prohibited.
Grazing or holding more than four stock overnight within one-quarter mile of Rosasco, Pingree, Piute, Gem, Jewelry, Long, or Maxwell Lakes is prohibited.
Grazing or holding stock overnight within one-quarter mile of Camp, Bear, Grouse, Powell, Wood, Deer, or Waterhouse Lakes is prohibited.
Learn more about why regulations may be necessary in wilderness.
