Unless otherwise provided by BLM, the Wilderness Act, or the Act of Congress designating the area as wilderness, all wilderness areas will be open to uses consistent with the preservation of their wilderness character and their future use and enjoyment as wilderness. In subpart 6304 you will find provisions implementing the special provisions of the Wilderness Act that allow specific uses of wilderness areas. In § 6302.20 you will find a list of acts that are explicitly prohibited within wilderness areas.

(a) In general, you do not need an authorization to use wilderness areas.

(b) BLM may require an authorization and charge fees for some uses of wilderness areas. You must obtain authorization from BLM and pay fees to use a wilderness area when required by:

(1) The regulations in this part (see § 6302.15 on collecting natural resource materials, § 6302.16 on gathering scientific information, and subpart 6305 on access to inholdings and valid occupancies);

(2) Regulations in this chapter II—Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior—governing the specific activities in which you are engaged;

(3) The management plan for the wilderness area; or

(4) A BLM closure or restriction under § 6302.19 of this part.

(c) To determine whether you need an authorization under paragraph (b)(2) of this section, you should refer to the applicable BLM regulations for your particular activity.

You may request an authorization to use a wilderness area from the BLM field office with jurisdiction over the wilderness area you want to use.

(a) You do not need a permit or other authorization to climb in BLM wilderness.

(b) [Reserved]

(c) You must not use power drills for climbing. See § 6302.20(d).

(a) You may remove or disturb natural resources for non-commercial purposes in wilderness areas, including prospecting, provided—

(1) You do it in a manner that preserves the wilderness environment, using no more than non-motorized hand tools and causing minimal surface disturbance; and

(2)(i) Your proposed activity conforms to the applicable management plan; or

(ii) You have a BLM authorization if one is required by statute or regulation.

(b) Where BLM allows campfires in a wilderness, you may gather a reasonable amount of wood for use in your campfire.

(a) You may conduct research, including gathering information and collecting natural or cultural resources in wilderness areas, using methods that may cause greater impacts on the wilderness environment than allowed under § 6302.15(a), if—

(1) Similar research opportunities are not reasonably available outside wilderness;

(2) You carry out your proposed activity in a manner compatible with the preservation of the wilderness environment and conforming to the applicable management plan;

(3) Any ground disturbance or removal of material is the minimum necessary for the scientific purposes of the research; and

(4) You have an authorization from BLM.

(b) You must reclaim disturbed areas, and BLM may require you to post a bond.

If you have a disability that requires the use of a wheelchair, you may use a wheelchair in a wilderness. Consistent with the Wilderness Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12207), BLM is not required to facilitate such use by building any facilities or modifying any conditions of lands within a wilderness area.

In accordance with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. 1996), American Indians may use wilderness areas for traditional religious purposes, subject to the provisions of the Wilderness Act, the prohibitions in § 6302.20, and other applicable law.

When necessary to carry out the provisions of the Wilderness Act and other Federal laws, BLM may close or restrict the use of lands or waters within the boundaries of a BLM wilderness area, using the procedures in § 8364.1 of this chapter. BLM will limit any such closure to affect the smallest area necessary for the shortest time necessary.

Except as specifically provided in the Wilderness Act, the individual statutes designating the particular BLM wilderness area, or the regulations of this part, and subject to valid existing rights, in BLM wilderness areas you must not:

(a) Operate a commercial enterprise;

(b) Build temporary or permanent roads;

(c) Build aircraft landing strips, heliports, or helispots;

(d) Use motorized equipment; or motor vehicles, motorboats, or other forms of mechanical transport;

(e) Land aircraft, or drop or pick up any material, supplies or person by means of aircraft, including a helicopter, hang-glider, hot air balloon, parasail, or parachute;

(f) Build, install, or erect structures or installations, including transmission lines, motels, vacation homes, sheds, stores, resorts, organization camps, hunting and fishing lodges, electronic installations, and similar structures, other than tents, tarpaulins, temporary corrals, and similar devices for overnight camping;

(g) Cut trees;

(h) Enter or use wilderness areas without authorization, where BLM requires authorization under § 6302.12;

(i) Engage or participate in competitive use as defined in section 2932.5 of this chapter, including those activities involving physical endurance of a person or animal, foot races, water craft races, survival exercises, war games, or other similar exercises;

(j) [Reserved]; or

(k) Violate any BLM regulation, authorization, or order.

(a) If you commit a prohibited act listed in § 6302.20 in a BLM wilderness area, you are subject to criminal prosecution on each offense. If convicted, you may be fined not more than $100,000 under 18 U.S.C. 3571. In addition, you may be imprisoned for not more than 12 months, as provided for by 43 U.S.C. 1733(a).

(b) At the request of the Secretary of the Interior, the United States Attorney General may institute a civil action in any United States district court for an injunction or other appropriate order to prevent you from using public lands in violation of the regulations of this part.