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If you’ve purchased yourself a hiking cart to help carry your equipment on the trail, you might be surprised to learn that not everywhere allows you to use one. The rules depend on what type of public land you’re visiting, and getting it wrong could result in a fine of up to $5,000.
The Wilderness Act of 1964 prohibits “other forms of mechanical transport” in designated wilderness areas, which federal agencies interpret as any wheeled device including hiking carts, game carts, and wheelbarrows. However, non-wilderness National Forest land and BLM land often permit wheeled devices, and ADA-compliant wheelchairs are always allowed. The key is knowing exactly what type of land you’re hiking on.
The Wilderness Act and Mechanical Transport
The Wilderness Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964, establishing the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). The intention was to ensure that future generations could enjoy America’s wild places in their natural state, free from human-made interference.
Today, the NWPS includes 806 designated wilderness areas across 44 states and Puerto Rico, protecting approximately 111.8 million acres of federal land. That’s roughly 4.5% of the entire United States, though only about 2.7% of the lower 48 states. These areas are managed by four federal agencies: the U.S. Forest Service (447 areas), the Bureau of Land Management (224 areas), the National Park Service (61 areas), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (71 areas).
The critical provision for anyone considering a hiking cart comes from Section 4(c) of the Wilderness Act:
no use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment or motorboats, no landing of aircraft, no other form of mechanical transport, and no structure or installation within any such area.
Section 4(c) of the Wilderness Act (Full text – NPS)
That phrase — “no other form of mechanical transport” — is what determines whether your hiking cart is allowed.
How Federal Agencies Interpret “Mechanical Transport”
The interpretation is not as vague as it might seem. Federal regulations provide a specific definition. Under 36 CFR § 293.6, mechanical transport means “any contrivance which travels over ground, snow, or water on wheels, tracks, skids, or by floatation and is propelled by a nonliving power source contained or carried on or within the device.”
More importantly for hikers, the Forest Service regulation 36 CFR § 261.57(h) explicitly prohibits possessing or using “a wagon, cart, wheelbarrow, bicycle, or other vehicle” within National Forest Wilderness Areas. That list specifically includes carts and wheelbarrows by name.
What’s Specifically Banned in Wilderness Areas
Based on the Forest Service Manual (FSM 2320) and supporting regulations, the following wheeled devices are prohibited in all designated wilderness areas:
- Hiking carts and trail carts — any wheeled device for hauling gear on trails
- Game carts and deer carts — explicitly addressed and prohibited, even for hunters packing out harvested game
- Wheelbarrows — specifically named in the regulation
- Bicycles — banned in wilderness since the Forest Service clarified this in a 1986 Federal Register notice
- Wagons and hand carts — any wheeled hauling device
- Pack wheels — wheelbarrow-type devices with mountain bike tires
Penalties for Violations
Using a prohibited wheeled device in a wilderness area isn’t just a slap on the wrist. Violation of 36 CFR § 261.57(h) can result in a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both. Rangers do enforce this, particularly in heavily visited wilderness areas.
Wilderness Areas vs. Other Federal Lands
One of the biggest sources of confusion is that “wilderness area” has a very specific legal meaning. Not all national forest land is wilderness, and not all public land follows the same rules. Here’s how the different land types compare:
Designated Wilderness Areas
These are the most restrictive. Managed by the Forest Service, BLM, National Park Service, or Fish and Wildlife Service, designated wilderness areas follow the Wilderness Act’s prohibition on mechanical transport. No hiking carts, no game carts, no bicycles, no wheeled devices of any kind (with the ADA wheelchair exception discussed below).
National Forest Land (Non-Wilderness)
Most National Forests contain both wilderness and non-wilderness areas. On non-wilderness National Forest land, the rules are significantly more relaxed. Game carts, hiking carts, and bicycles are generally permitted on trails, though individual forests may have their own specific restrictions. Always check with the local ranger district before heading out.
BLM Land (Non-Wilderness)
Bureau of Land Management land outside of designated wilderness areas tends to have the fewest restrictions on wheeled devices. Hiking carts, game carts, bicycles, and even ATVs are generally permitted, though some areas restrict motorized use to designated routes. BLM dispersed camping areas may limit vehicle access to within 150 feet of designated routes to prevent resource damage.
State and County Lands
State parks, state forests, and county-managed lands each set their own rules. Some state wilderness areas mirror the federal restrictions, while others are more permissive. Contact the managing agency directly for the specific area you plan to visit.
ADA Accommodations and Wheelchair Access in Wilderness
There is one important exception to the mechanical transport ban: wheelchairs. Section 508(c) of the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) explicitly states that nothing in the Wilderness Act shall prohibit the use of a wheelchair in a wilderness area by an individual whose disability requires one.
Under the ADA, a wheelchair is defined as “a device designed solely for use by a mobility-impaired person for locomotion, that is suitable for use in an indoor pedestrian area.” This includes both manual and power wheelchairs.
However, there are important limitations to understand:
- No obligation to modify trails. Federal agencies are not required to build accessible trails, install ramps, or modify wilderness conditions to accommodate wheelchair use.
- The narrow definition applies. In wilderness areas specifically, the wheelchair definition from Section 508(c) applies — not the broader 2010 ADA update that covers “other power-driven mobility devices” (OPDMDs) like Segways or golf carts. Those broader devices are not permitted in wilderness.
- Wilderness trails are inherently challenging. While wheelchair access is legally protected, most wilderness trails are narrow, rocky, and steep, making practical access extremely difficult.
The National Park Service confirms that devices meeting the ADA wheelchair definition are allowed anywhere foot travel is permitted, including in wilderness areas. If you have a mobility-related disability and plan to visit a wilderness area, contact the managing agency beforehand to discuss accessibility and trail conditions.
Alternatives to Hiking Carts in Wilderness Areas
If you can’t bring a wheeled cart into wilderness, you still have several options for carrying heavy loads:
Heavy-Duty Frame Packs
External frame backpacks with load shelves are the most popular alternative. Modern systems from brands like Stone Glacier, Mystery Ranch, and Kifaru can handle loads up to 150 pounds. Many frames convert from a standard gear configuration to a meat-hauling setup in under two minutes, which makes them popular with backcountry hunters. These are fully legal in all wilderness areas since they’re carried on your body, not wheeled.
Pack Animals
Horses, mules, llamas, and goats are all traditional methods of hauling gear into wilderness. Pack animals are generally allowed in designated wilderness areas, though some specific areas restrict them to protect fragile ecosystems. Pack llamas can carry 60 to 100 pounds and are generally more docile and trail-friendly than horses. Many outfitters near popular wilderness areas offer pack animal rental and guide services.
Soft-Sided Carriers and Game Bags
For hunters packing out game, high-quality game bags and panniers designed for frame packs are the wilderness-legal alternative to deer carts. These distribute weight across your back and shoulders rather than on wheels. It typically takes multiple trips to pack out a large animal this way, but it keeps you in compliance with the law.
Trip Planning and Caching
Breaking a heavy load into multiple trips is often the simplest solution. You can cache supplies at a base camp near the wilderness boundary (using bear-proof containers where required) and make shorter trips to move gear to your final destination.
The Legislative Debate: Will the Rules Change?
There have been attempts to change the law. In 2017, Representative Tom McClintock introduced H.R. 1349, a bill that would have amended the Wilderness Act to allow bicycles, game carts, strollers, and wheelbarrows in wilderness areas. The bill passed out of the House Committee on Natural Resources with a 22-18 vote in December 2017, but it never received a full House vote. Opponents dubbed it the “Wheels Over Wilderness” bill, arguing it would fundamentally undermine the character of wilderness areas. The bill died when the 115th Congress ended in January 2019, and no similar legislation has advanced since.
For now, the prohibition on wheeled devices in wilderness remains firmly in place.
Practical Tips Before You Head Out
- Identify the land type first. Before any trip, determine whether you’ll be in a designated wilderness area, non-wilderness national forest, BLM land, or state land. The rules differ significantly between these.
- Check the specific area’s regulations. Even within the same land type, individual areas can have additional restrictions. Contact the local ranger station or managing office.
- Get it in writing. If you receive verbal permission to use a cart or device in a non-wilderness area, ask for written confirmation. This protects you if a different ranger questions your gear on the trail.
- Look for trailhead signage. Wilderness boundaries are typically marked with signs at trailheads. If you see a “Entering Wilderness” sign, stow any wheeled devices before proceeding.
- Plan for the heaviest scenario. If your route passes through both wilderness and non-wilderness sections, plan your gear for the most restrictive portion. You may be able to use a cart on the non-wilderness section and switch to a frame pack at the wilderness boundary.
Wrapping Up
The short answer is that hiking carts are not allowed in any of the 806 federally designated wilderness areas in the United States. The Wilderness Act’s prohibition on mechanical transport is clear, the federal regulations name carts explicitly, and the penalties can be significant.
However, the picture is much more nuanced once you step outside designated wilderness boundaries. Non-wilderness National Forest land and BLM land generally allow hiking carts and game carts, and state and county lands each have their own rules. If you have a mobility-related disability, ADA protections ensure your right to use a wheelchair even within wilderness areas.
If you’re in any doubt about whether you’re allowed to use a hiking cart on a specific trail, contact the authorities that manage the area before your trip. Ask specifically whether your route passes through designated wilderness, and get any permissions in writing. A few minutes of research before your hike can save you from an unpleasant encounter with a ranger — and a potential $5,000 fine.
