Gaylord Nelson Wilderness Area

Gaylord Nelson Wilderness Area spans nearly 33,000 acres in Wisconsin and is managed by the National Park Service as a federally designated Wilderness. The landscape is primitive backcountry, closed to roads, motorized travel, and mechanized equipment. This is true wilderness — a place for foot travel only, where Leave No Trace principles are not just recommended but essential to preserve the landscape.

The wilderness offers hiking and backpacking in a non-motorized backcountry setting where solitude and self-reliance are central to the experience. There are no maintained facilities, services, or motorized access. Visitors should expect to navigate using map and compass, camp primitively, and pack out everything they pack in. This is backcountry travel in its purest form, suited to experienced wilderness users comfortable with minimal infrastructure and total self-sufficiency.