The Black River Wilderness in New York is a pristine and secluded area known for its rugged terrain, dense forests, and abundant wildlife.
The Black River Falls is a stunning natural waterfall located in the heart of the Black River Wilderness. Visitors can hike along the trails to get up close and personal with the cascading waters, or simply enjoy the view from one of the many observation points scattered throughout the area.
Devil's Kettle is a mysterious waterfall that has puzzled scientists for years. Half of the waterfall disappears into a giant pothole, leaving experts scratching their heads as to where the water goes. Visitors can hike to the base of the falls and witness this natural wonder for themselves.
The Black River Wilderness is home to a beautiful old growth forest, with towering trees that have been standing for centuries. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll through the forest and admire the ancient trees, as well as the diverse plant and animal life that call this area home.
The Black River offers excellent opportunities for canoeing and kayaking, with calm waters and scenic views at every turn. Visitors can rent a boat and paddle along the river, taking in the sights and sounds of the wilderness from a unique perspective.
The Black River Wilderness is teeming with wildlife, including deer, black bears, and a variety of bird species. Visitors can keep an eye out for these creatures as they explore the area, or join a guided wildlife viewing tour for a chance to see some of the more elusive inhabitants of the wilderness.
Description: One way to experience the wilderness by water is along the Black Canyon Water Trail. Visitors can bring their own paddle craft or rent one from an authorized outfitter. Permitted businesses also offer guided raft, canoe and kayak trips from the base of the Hoover Dam down the river.
Image by Lake Mead NRA Public Affairs – CC BY-SA 2.0 – Wikimedia
Description: Photo by Bob Wick, BLM Pictured is the Canaan Mountain Wilderness, adjacent to the southeast boundary of Zion National Park. In this wilderness, an 8-by-10 mile block of Navajo Sandstone, bounded by 2,000-foot-high cliffs, was sculpted by wind and water over time to produce a landscape of soaring cliff walls, natural arches, and slot canyons. Seeps in the canyon walls provide water for hanging gardens of maidenhair fern, monkeyflower, and columbine. Hawks, falcons, and golden eagles nest along the sandstone walls, while ringtailed cats, deer, cougar, and black bear live on the plateaus and in the canyon bottoms.
Image by BLMUtah – Public domain – Wikimedia
Description: The annual spring wildlife survey in the Wild Rogue Wilderness captured dozens of high-resolution images of carnivores this year – and those are just the best shots. Better battery life and digital storage space in cameras allowed BLM staff to leave the motion-triggered equipment out for a longer duration along the Wild and Scenic Rogue River. In this case, eight cameras were positioned at various locations and left to run for almost two months – from April to June, roughly. Raw chicken meat was used to entice the carnivores. The main goal of the surveys is to track the range of the fisher, a member of the weasel family that may be listed under the Endangered Species Act. According to Jeff Stephens, who coordinates the fisher surveys for the BLM Medford District, there are only two native fisher populations left on the West Coast. “The goal is to expand the range of the fisher,” said Stephens. “We need to manage for them because they are a sensitive species.” Although the spring survey did not capture images of any fishers, the data collected—including DNA samples collected from a hair-snare device—is still shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Many other animals were caught on camera: black bear; grey fox; coyote; mountain lion; ringtail cat; opossum; both striped and spotted skunks; deer; woodrats; grey squirrels; and turkey vultures. And more information about the Rogue River Wilderness: www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/rogue/index.php
Image by Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington – Public domain – Wikimedia
Description: The annual spring wildlife survey in the Wild Rogue Wilderness captured dozens of high-resolution images of carnivores this year – and those are just the best shots. Better battery life and digital storage space in cameras allowed BLM staff to leave the motion-triggered equipment out for a longer duration along the Wild and Scenic Rogue River. In this case, eight cameras were positioned at various locations and left to run for almost two months – from April to June, roughly. Raw chicken meat was used to entice the carnivores. The main goal of the surveys is to track the range of the fisher, a member of the weasel family that may be listed under the Endangered Species Act. According to Jeff Stephens, who coordinates the fisher surveys for the BLM Medford District, there are only two native fisher populations left on the West Coast. “The goal is to expand the range of the fisher,” said Stephens. “We need to manage for them because they are a sensitive species.” Although the spring survey did not capture images of any fishers, the data collected—including DNA samples collected from a hair-snare device—is still shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Many other animals were caught on camera: black bear; grey fox; coyote; mountain lion; ringtail cat; opossum; both striped and spotted skunks; deer; woodrats; grey squirrels; and turkey vultures. And more information about the Rogue River Wilderness: <a href="http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/rogue/index.php" rel="nofollow">www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/rogue/index.php</a>
Image by Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington from Portland, America – Public domain – Wikimedia
Description: Ducks and a high River Wharfe at the Wilderness, Wetherby, West Yorkshire. Taken on the afternoon of Sunday the 11th of August 2019.
Image by Mtaylor848 – CC BY-SA 4.0 – Wikimedia
Description: Kayaking in the Black Canyon at Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NPS Photo by Christie Vanover)
Image by Lake Mead NRA Public Affairs – CC BY-SA 2.0 – Wikimedia
Description: Photos by Greg Shine, BLM These photos were taken in April 2016, along the wilderness area's Black Lava Trail, Basalt Trail, Tumulus Trail & Nighthawk Trail. The United States Congress designated the Oregon Badlands Wilderness in 2009 and it now has 29,180 acres. All of this wilderness is located in Oregon and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Oregon Badlands Wilderness holds a number of remarkable and exciting landforms and geologic features. Most of the area includes the rugged Badlands volcano, which has features of inflated lava. Windblown volcanic ash and eroded lava make up the sandy, light-colored soil that covers the low and flat places in these fields of lava. Dry River, active during each of several ice ages, marks the southeast boundary between two volcanic areas – Badlands volcano and the Horse Ridge volcanoes. Earth movements along the Brothers Fault Zone have faulted and sliced up the old Horse Ridge volcanoes, but not Badlands volcano. The Badlands formed in an unusual way. The flow that supplied lava to the Badlands apparently developed a hole in the roof of its main lava tube. This hole became the source of lava that built a shield volcano that we call the Badlands (technically, a rootless shield volcano). An irregularly-shaped pit crater at the top of the shield marks the site where lava flowed in all directions to create the Badlands. A variety of wildlife species inhabit the area including yellow-bellied marmots, bobcat, mule deer, elk, and antelope. The southern portion of the Badlands Wilderness includes crucial winter range for mule deer. Avian species include prairie falcons and golden eagles.
Image by Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington from Portland, America – Public domain – Wikimedia
Description: Photos by Greg Shine, BLM These photos were taken in April 2016, along the wilderness area's Black Lava Trail, Basalt Trail, Tumulus Trail & Nighthawk Trail. The United States Congress designated the Oregon Badlands Wilderness in 2009 and it now has 29,180 acres. All of this wilderness is located in Oregon and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Oregon Badlands Wilderness holds a number of remarkable and exciting landforms and geologic features. Most of the area includes the rugged Badlands volcano, which has features of inflated lava. Windblown volcanic ash and eroded lava make up the sandy, light-colored soil that covers the low and flat places in these fields of lava. Dry River, active during each of several ice ages, marks the southeast boundary between two volcanic areas – Badlands volcano and the Horse Ridge volcanoes. Earth movements along the Brothers Fault Zone have faulted and sliced up the old Horse Ridge volcanoes, but not Badlands volcano. The Badlands formed in an unusual way. The flow that supplied lava to the Badlands apparently developed a hole in the roof of its main lava tube. This hole became the source of lava that built a shield volcano that we call the Badlands (technically, a rootless shield volcano). An irregularly-shaped pit crater at the top of the shield marks the site where lava flowed in all directions to create the Badlands. A variety of wildlife species inhabit the area including yellow-bellied marmots, bobcat, mule deer, elk, and antelope. The southern portion of the Badlands Wilderness includes crucial winter range for mule deer. Avian species include prairie falcons and golden eagles.
Image by Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington from Portland, America – Public domain – Wikimedia
Description: A map of the nine wilderness areas located in or partially in Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Image by National Park Service – Public domain – Wikimedia