Aleutian Islands Wilderness, Alaska
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Area Management
The Indian Heaven Wilderness is part of the 109 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 Indian Heaven 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
Permits - Permits are required for day and overnight users, one permit per group. Permits provide us with important use information to set management priorities and better compete for trail funding grants.
The group size limit is 12. Any combination of persons and pack or saddle stock exceeding 12 is prohibited. Groups larger than 12 must split into separate groups and remain separated by at least 1 mile at all times. Limits on group size help to preserve Wilderness solitude and reduce impacts to vegetation.
Camping is PROHIBITED within 100 feet of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and within 100 feet of lakes. Exceptions are designated campsites at Thomas and Blue Lakes.
Caching or storing supplies or equipment for longer than 48 hours is prohibited.
Stay Limit: It is 14 consecutive days in any one location. The maximum combined total stay limit for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest is 45 days per calendar year.
STOCK USERS
Certified weed free hay, grain or other forms of livestock feed is required on all wilderness trails and at trailheads.
Pack and saddle stock are to be kept at least 200 feet from lakes (except for watering). Do not tie stock directly to living or dead trees. The use of highlines, hobbles and/or moveable pickets will help to prevent damage to trees and other vegetation.
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