South Warner Wilderness
Area Management
The South Warner 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 South Warner 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
Wilderness entry permits are not required, however, campfire permits are.
No camping with 150 feet of trails or lakes.
Dispose of human waste at least 150 feet from lakes, streams, or trails.
Maximum group size is 25 members.
The maximum number of stock is 25 head.
All stock feed must be processed (no loose hay or straw).
No hitching or tethering stock within 150 feet of lakes, streams or trails or to trees. This can injure trees and damage natural features.
STOCK USERS
Wilderness entry permits are not required, but campfire permits are.
Maximum number of recreational livestock per party is 25, unless you have written approval from the Forest Supervisor.
Stock are not permitted within 150 feet of lakes, except for loading, watering or through travel.
Pelletized feed must be provided for stock where adequate forage is not available. Hay or other unprocessed feeds are not allowed in order to prevent introduction of noxious weeds and non-native plants.
Hobble, picket or confine stock overnight in temporary corrals (rope or electric fence).
Do not tie animals directly to live trees.
Learn more about why regulations may be necessary in wilderness.
