NCA and Wilderness Allowable Activities

Bureau of Land Management
		BLACK ROCK DESERT-HIGH ROCK CANYON
		EMIGRANT TRAILS NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA
Home	Background	Land Use Planning	Resource Management Plan

NCA and Wilderness Allowable Activities Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon
Emigrant Trails
National Conservation Area
and Wilderness Area

Comparison of Allowable or
Not Allowable Activities

	NCA	Wilderness Areas
Vehicle access and OHV use	Yes, OHV use limited to about 800 miles of designated roads and trails . The road through High Rock Canyon is open to motorized use.	No. Motor vehicle and mechanical transport are prohibited. Roads separating wilderness areas and some dead-end roads are open.
Mountain biking	Yes, throughout the NCA	No. Mountain bikes are considered mechanical transport.
Wheelchair use	Yes	Yes. Persons requiring the use of a wheelchair may use one in a wilderness. Improvements will not be made within a wilderness area to provide for wheelchair use.
Aircraft (BLM does not regulate airspace.)	Yes. Aircraft may land within the NCA.	No. Aircraft generally will not land in wilderness, nor may aircraft be used to drop or pickup materials, supplies or persons.
Livestock grazing	Yes, Previously permitted grazing may continue.	Yes, Previously permitted grazing may continue.
Maintenance of existing wildlife and range developments.	Yes.	Yes. Includes repair and replacement.
Construction of new wildlife and range developments.	Yes, as approved by BLM.	Usually No. Except in rare instances to protect and improve management of wilderness resources.
Mining, mineral leasing, including geothermal.	Yes, existing operations may continue. No new claims may be filed.	Yes, existing operations may continue. No new claims may be filed.
Special recreation permits	Yes, approved by BLM, and consistent with the intent of the legislation and the NCA Management Plan.	Yes. Special recreation permits are more restrictive in wilderness areas, and may not involve mechanized equipment.
Hunting and fishing	Yes. Hunting and fishing are allowed according to state regulations.	Yes. Hunting and fishing are allowed according to state regulations.
Rockhounding and similar non-commercial collection activities.	Yes.	Yes. Activities must be conducted in a manner that preserves the wilderness environment.
Rock climbing	Yes, except in High Rock Canyon.	Yes. No power drills or new fixed anchors.
Hand-held or portable equipment such as metal detectors, Geiger counters, cell phones, radios, camp stoves and global positioning systems.	Yes.	Yes.
Wheeled game carriers, chainsaws and other kinds of motorized or mechanized equipment.	Yes.	No. Motorized and mechanized equipment is prohibited.
Tent camping and campfires.	Yes. Campfires on the playa require fire pan or other protective devices.	Yes. Dead and down fuelwood only. Portable campstove use is encouraged.
Fight wildland fire	Yes.	Yes. Equipment and tactics used must minimize impacts to wilderness values.
Respond to emergencies	Yes.	Yes. Motorized vehicles and equipment may be used for emergencies as approved by authorizing officer.
Control noxious weeds	Yes.	Yes. Methods used will cause least impact to wilderness resources.
Hiking, horseback riding, backpacking, nature study, photography.	Yes.	Yes.

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