⛰️ A Guide to US Public Lands

 


America the beautiful. Land of the free 🇺🇸

With over 640M acres to enjoy across the continental U.S., America's public lands are owned by the people and managed on our behalf by the federal and state governments.

Below is a list of the major types of public lands found throughout the US, a description of their purpose, what they are best used for, and costs associated with visiting them. For more information on the history of our public lands and a more thorough explanation of how they are managed, check out the Guide to Understanding Public Lands by REI.

We hope this guide serves as a starting point for your next adventure.

National Parks

National Parks protect our country’s most beautiful places while making it as easy as possible for large numbers of people to visit.

  • Good for: Sight Seeing, Hiking, Wildlife Viewing, History
  • Bad for: Camping (crowded, permits and reservations required, lots of rules).
  • Cost: Entrance Fee (usually $20-$30 per vehicle and $10-$15 per passenger).
  • Recommendation: Check out the America the Beautiful pass. For $80 you get access to all 63 National Parks for an entire year. Roadtrip!!
  • Link: https://www.nps.gov/index.htm

National Forests

Managed for multiple uses, our 154 national forests provide resource extraction as well as wildlife conservation and recreational opportunities.

  • Good for: Fishing, Cycling, Camping and other outdoor pursuits. National Forests are way less crowded than national/state parks and typically allow for a lot more activities.
  • Bad for: Accessibility. They’re basically undeveloped tracks of land.
  • Cost: Usually free, but some may require a forest pass. Make sure to check before you go.
  • Link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lands

Leftover from the land the US government tried to give to homesteaders.

  • Managed by the government for resource extraction, conservation and recreation.
  • Good for: NO RULES. You can camp, drive off-road, shoot guns, whatever you want to do.
  • Bad for: Getting stuck or into trouble on your own. Plan before you go.
  • Cost: Mostly free, but some camping sites may require a fee. Check before you go.
  • Link: https://www.blm.gov/

National Wildlife Refuges

Created for and funded by waterfowl hunters. Exist to provide habitat and migration corridors for migrating birds and animals.

  • Good for: Hunting, Fishing, Paddling, Wildlife Viewing
  • Bad for: Camping & Hiking - they usually consist of wetlands.
  • Cost: Day-use fee. Can be accessed using America the Beautiful pass as well.
  • Link: https://www.fws.gov/refuges/

National Conservation Areas

Areas of particular beauty or biological diversity that are managed by the BLM but given greater protections.

National Monuments

Created in order to protect historic, natural or scientific areas that are being threatened.

Wilderness Areas

Places where nature hasn’t been spoiled by humans. Designated by Congress, these plots of land can exist on their own or live within other tracts of land (BLM, National Forest, etc.).

National Recreation Areas

Typically located near major urban areas, they are designed to provide outdoor recreation opportunities for large numbers of people.

National Seashores & Lakeshores

Designed to preserve coastlines in their natural state.

  • Good for: The most beautiful, unspoiled beaches in the country
  • Cost $10/person (or less)

National Trails

Managed and provided by the federal government for long distance hikes.

State Parks

Managed by a particular state for the conservation and enjoyment of its citizens.

  • Good for: Quick escapes from major urban areas; Fishing; Camping; Hiking; Wildlife Viewing; Picnics.
  • Bad for: Solitude.
  • Cost: Small entrance fee. Some states provide a pass that will allow you to access all of their state parks for a year (based on vehicle license plate, usually $30 or less).
  • Link: https://stateparks.org/

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