National What?

The BLM controls more land than any other federal agency. Their Web site says 264 million acres—approximately one-eighth of the land in the United States. Generally, the BLM controls the big empty spaces: the desert lands of the Southwest and Northwest, the Alaskan tundra, steppe country. The BLM also administers 90 million acres of forested land, most of which is in Alaska.

The BLM is a relatively new agency and didn't even have a recreational program until 1960. This is reflected in the liberal allowance of resource extraction on BLM land. Mining, drilling, and grazing are featured activities; recreation is the new kid on the block. Off-highway vehicles and snowmobiles are given freer rein by the BLM. However, many important trails cross BLM land—notably the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and the Iditarod—and 34 Wild and Scenic rivers.

Getting a handle on recreation opportunities on BLM lands can be a challenge. BLM areas generally lack any kind of ranger stations, brochures, and other facilities. Sometimes they don't even have a name. But therein lies the glory: the blank spots on the map, open for exploration.

Here are some of the more common designations used by the BLM. . . .

National Monuments: President Clinton was the first president to bestow National Monument status on BLM areas. Grand Staircase–Escalante was the first such declaration, followed by more in 2000, his last year in office, including Vermillion Cliffs in Arizona and Snake River Birds of Prey in Idaho.

National Conservation Areas: These are areas of high ecological importance. Areas include Kings Range Conservation Area, which shields an important stretch of the Lost Coast, the Red Rock NCA near Las Vegas, and San Pedro Riparian NCA in Arizona.

National Recreation Areas: Unlike the National Park NRAs, BLM NRAs can be in isolated areas and may not be particularly water based. Examples include the White Mountains NRA in Alaska. Other areas simply have some concatenation of "recreation area"—Canyon Rims Recreation Area at the south end of Canyonlands National Park, the Arkansas Headwaters RA in Colorado, an important whitewater rafting area, and the Worland Caves Special Recreation Management Area in Utah, a major spelunking destination.

Wildernesses: Several important designated wildernesses are on BLM land, including the Bear Trap Canyon Unit of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness in Montana.

Upside: Free, wide open spaces; low or no fees. Downside: Nada. No facilities. No rangers. No interpretation.