Backcountry Management Zones - Rocky Mountain National Park

GIS Coordinator Rocky Mountain National Park GIS Program

This data depicts the Backcountry Management Zones of Rocky Mountain National Park This dataset show the areas and management as described in the Rocky Mountain National Park Backcountry/Wilderness Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (BWMP), 2001. From the introduction to the BWMP: "This Backcountry/Wilderness Management Plan addresses issues and provides guidelines for managing the non-developed areas of RMNP that are defined as backcountry (any area more than 100 feet from developed areas or roads) or as designated, recommended, or potential wilderness. As further discussed in Section 1.3.2, the scope of this plan includes both designated and recommended wilderness, per NPS Management Policies 2001 (6.3.1). Since backcountry and wilderness do not include the developed areas of RMNP, issues which pertain specifically to developed areas are not within the purview of this backcountry/Wilderness Management Plan. This plan supersedes any direction or guidance set forth in the 1984 Backcountry Management Plan. Within this framework, this plan provides direction for management of natural and cultural resources within the context of wilderness and backcountry management policies, with primary focus on visitor use and impacts to wilderness values and resources and administrative actions to mitigate associated impacts. It also sets the tone and increases awareness of the way the public and park staff looks at the wilderness and backcountry character and resources of RMNP. The scope of this plan does not involve any proposed approval, action, or documentation that is directly related to the recommendation before Congress to officially designate 248,464 acres (100,628 hectares) of RMNP as wilderness. This plan and current actions and policies of the Park must treat any proposed or recommended wilderness the same as officially designated wilderness, based on NPS Management Policies 2001 (6.3.1)."