National Conservation Lands


National Conservation Lands, formally known as the National Landscape Conservation System, is a collection of lands in 904 federally recognized areas considered to be the crown jewels of the American West. These lands represent 15% of the managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The BLM is the largest federal public land manager and is responsible for over 40% of all the federal public land in the nation. The other major federal public land managers include the US Forest Service, National Park Service, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Over the years, the Bureau of Land Management has had to adjust its approach to public land management to fit the changing needs of the nation. The BLM historically has managed lands under its jurisdiction for extractive uses, such as mining, logging, grazing, and oil and gas production. In 1983, Congress acknowledged the value of watersheds, wildlife habitat, recreation, scenery, scientific exploration and other non-extractive uses with the designation of the first BLM-managed wilderness area—the Bear Trap Canyon unit of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness in Montana. In 1996, President Clinton underscored non-extractive priorities on BLM lands when he established the first national monument to be administered by the BLM—the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. With this and several similar designations, a new focus emerged that would become part of how the agency looks at the land it manages: the protection of special areas where conservation and restoration of the landscape and its biological or cultural resources is the overriding objective.
The Bureau of Land Management's National Landscape Conservation System, better known as the National Conservation Lands, was created in 2000 with the mission to "conserve, protect, and restore these nationally significant landscapes that have outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific values for the benefit of current and future generations."
There are eleven federal conservation designations for the units that make up the National Conservation Lands:
When the Conservation System was created in 2000 without Congressional authorization, there was no guarantee that the System would be permanent. The National Landscape Conservation System Act was signed into law in March 2009 as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. The Act permanently unified the individual units as a public lands System, protecting the System in law so that it would no longer exist at the pleasure of each president. This marked the first new congressionally authorized public lands system in decades.
The act also added of new designations to the System, including a National Monument, three National Conservation Areas, Wilderness, Wild and Scenic Rivers and National Scenic Trails.

List of National Conservation Lands areas

National monuments

As of January 2026, there are 31 sites totaling.
MonumentStateEstablishedBLM/federal areaNon-federal areaTotal area
Agua FriaArizona2000
Avi Kwa AmeNevada2023
Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of Grand CanyonArizona2023
Basin and RangeNevada2015
Bears EarsUtah2016
Berryessa Snow MountainCalifornia2015
Browns CanyonColorado2015
California CoastalCalifornia2000
Canyons of the AncientsColorado2000
Carrizo PlainCalifornia2001
Cascade–SiskiyouOregon2000
ChuckwallaCalifornia2025
Craters of the MoonIdaho2000
Fort OrdCalifornia2012
Gold ButteNevada2016
Grand Canyon-ParashantArizona2000
Grand Staircase–EscalanteUtah1996
Ironwood ForestArizona2000
JurassicUtah2019
Kasha-Katuwe Tent RocksNew Mexico2001
Mojave TrailsCalifornia2016
Organ Mountains–Desert PeaksNew Mexico2014
Pompeys PillarMontana2001
Prehistoric TrackwaysNew Mexico2009
Rio Grande del NorteNew Mexico2013
San Juan IslandsWashington2013
Sand To SnowCalifornia2016
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto MountainsCalifornia2000, 2009
Sonoran DesertArizona2001
Upper Missouri River BreaksMontana2001
Vermilion CliffsArizona2000

National conservation areas (NCAs)

As of January 2026, there are 19 sites totaling.
Conservation AreaStateEstablishedFederal areaNon-federal areaTotal area
Beaver Dam WashUtah2009
Black Rock Desert–High Rock Canyon Emigrant TrailsNevada2000
Dominguez–EscalanteColorado2009
El MalpaisNew Mexico1987
Fort Stanton–Snowy River CaveNew Mexico2009
Gila Box RiparianArizona1990
Gunnison GorgeColorado1999
John Wesley PowellUtah2019
King RangeCalifornia1970
Las CienegasArizona2000
McInnis CanyonsColorado2000
Numanaa NobeNevada2022
Pistone Black MouintainsNevada2022
Red CliffsUtah2009
Red Rock CanyonNevada1990
San Pedro RiparianArizona1988
Sloan CanyonNevada2002
Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of PreyIdaho1993
SteeseAlaska1980

BLM wilderness areas

As of January 2026, there are 263 sites totaling. This number excludes wilderness associated with other agencies.
Wilderness areaStateEstablishedBLM area
Aden Lava FlowNew Mexico2019
Agua TibiaCalifornia2009
Ah-Shi-Sle-PahNew Mexico2019
Aravaipa CanyonArizona1984
Argus RangeCalifornia1994
Arrastra MountainArizona1990
Arrow CanyonNevada2002
Aubrey PeakArizona1990
Avawatz MountainsCalifornia2019
Baboquivari PeakArizona1990
Bear Trap CanyonUtah2009
Beauty MountainCalifornia2009
Beaver Dam MountainsArizona, Utah1984
Becky PeakNevada2006
Big Horn MountainsArizona1990
Big Maria MountainsCalifornia1994
Big RocksNevada2004
Bigelow Cholla GardenCalifornia1994
Big Jacks CreekIdaho2009
Bighorn MountainCalifornia1994
Big Wild Horse MesaUtah2019
Bisti/De-Na-ZinNew Mexico1984, 1996, 2019
Black MountainCalifornia1994
BlackridgeUtah2009
Black Ridge CanyonsColorado, Utah2000
Black Rock DesertNevada2000
Bright StarCalifornia1994
BristleconeNevada2006
Bristol MountainsCalifornia1994
Broad CanyonNew Mexico2019
Bruneau–JarbridgeIdaho2009
Buzzards PeakCalifornia2019
Cache CreekCalifornia2006
Cadiz DunesCalifornia1994
Cain MountainNevada2022
Calico MountainsNevada2000
Canaan MountainUtah2009
Carrizo GorgeCalifornia1994
CebollaNew Mexico1987
Cedar MountainUtah2006
Cedar RoughsCalifornia2006
Cerro del YutaNew Mexico2019
Chemehuevi MountainsCalifornia1994
Chimney PeakCalifornia1994
Chuckwalla MountainsCalifornia1994, 2009
Cinder ConeNew Mexico2019
Clan Alpine MountainsNevada2022
Cleghorn LakesCalifornia1994
Clipper MountainCalifornia1994
Clover MountainsNevada2004
Cold WashUtah2019
Coso RangeCalifornia1994
Cottonwood CanyonUtah2009
Cottonwood PointArizona1984
Cougar CanyonUtah2009
Coyote MountainsArizona1990
Coyote MountainsCalifornia1994
Darwin FallsCalifornia1994
Dead MountainsCalifornia1994
Deep CreekUtah2009
Deep Creek NorthUtah2009
Delamar MountainsNevada2004
Desatoya MountainsNevada2022
Desolation CanyonUtah2019
Devil's CanyonUtah2019
Devil's StaircaseOregon2019
Doc's PassUtah2009
DomelandCalifornia1994
Dominguez CanyonColorado2009
Dos Cabezas MountainsArizona1990
Eagle CanyonUtah2019
Eagletail MountainsArizona1990
East Cactus PlainArizona1990
East Fork High Rock CanyonNevada2000
East Potrillo MountainsNew Mexico2019
El DoradoNevada2002
Elkhorn RidgeCalifornia2006, 2011
El Paso MountainsCalifornia1994
Far South EgansNevada2004
Fish Creek MountainsCalifornia1994
FishhooksArizona1990
Fortification RangeNevada2004
Frank Church–River of No ReturnIdaho1980, 1984
Funeral MountainsCalifornia1994
Gibraltar MountainArizona1990
Golden ValleyCalifornia1994, 2019
Goose CreekUtah2009
Goshute CanyonNevada2006
Government PeakNevada2006
Grand Wash CliffsArizona1984
Granite MountainCalifornia2009
Grass ValleyCalifornia1994
Great Falls BasinCalifornia2019
Gunnison GorgeColorado1999
Harcuvar MountainsArizona1990
Harquahala MountainsArizona1990
Hassayampa River CanyonArizona1990
Hells CanyonArizona1990
Hells CanyonOregon1984
Highland RidgeNevada2006
High Rock CanyonNevada2000
High Rock LakeNevada2000
Hollow HillsCalifornia1994
Horse ValleyUtah2019
Hummingbird SpringsArizona1990
IbexCalifornia1994
Indian PassCalifornia1994, 2019
Inyo MountainsCalifornia1994
Ireteba PeaksNevada2002
IshiCalifornia1984
JacumbaCalifornia1994
Jim McClure-Jerry PeakIdaho2015
Jumbo SpringsNevada2002
Juniper DunesWashington1984
Kanab CreekArizona1984
Kelso DunesCalifornia1994
KiavahCalifornia1994
Kingston RangeCalifornia1994, 2019
King RangeCalifornia2006
Labyrinth CanyonUtah2019
La Madre MountainNevada2002
La Verkin CreekUtah2009
Lee MetcalfMontana1983
Lime CanyonNevada2002
Little Chuckwalla MountainsCalifornia1994
Little High Rock CanyonNevada2000
Little Jacks CreenIdaho2009
Little Ocean DrawUtah2019
Little PicachoCalifornia1994
Little Wild Horse CanyonUtah2019
Lower Last ChanceUtah2019
Lower White RiverOregon2009
Machesna MountainCalifornia1984
Malpais MesaCalifornia1994
Manly PeakCalifornia1994
Meadow Valley RangeNevada2004
Mecca HillsCalifornia1994
MesquiteCalifornia1994
Mexican MountainUtah2019
Milpitas WashCalifornia2019
Middle Wild Horse MesaUtah2019
Mormon MountainsNevada2004
Mount CharlestonNevada2002
Mount IrishNevada2004
Mount LoganArizona1984
Mount MoriahNevada1989
Mount NuttArizona1990
Mount RileyNew Mexico2019
Mount TiptonArizona1989
Mount TrumbullArizona1984
Mount WilsonArizona1990
Muddy CreekUtah2019
Muddy MountainsNevada2002
Muggins MountainsArizona1990
Needle's EyeArizona1990
New Water MountainsArizona1990
Newberry MountainsCalifornia1994
North Fork OwyheeIdaho2009
Nopah RangeCalifornia1994
North Algodones DunesCalifornia1994
North Black Rock RangeNevada2000
North Forks OwyheeIdaho2009, 2019
North Jackson MountainsNevada2000
North Maricopa MountainsArizona1990
North McCulloughNevada2002
North Mesquite MountainsCalifornia1994
North Santa TeresaArizona1990
OjitoNew Mexico2005
Old Woman MountainsCalifornia1994
Oregon BadlandsOregon2009
Organ MountainsNew Mexico2019
Orocopia MountainsCalifornia1994, 2009
Otay MountainCalifornia1994
Owens PeakCalifornia1994
Owyhee RiverIdaho2009, 2019
Pahrump ValleyCalifornia1994
Pahute PeakNevada2000
PaiuteArizona1984
Palen/McCoyCalifornia1984, 2009
Palo Verde MountainsCalifornia1994, 2019
Paria Canyon-Vermilion CliffsArizona, Utah1984
Parsnip PeakNevada2004
Peloncillo MountainsArizona1990
Picacho PeakCalifornia1994
Pine Forest RangeNevada2014
Pinto MountainsCalifornia2009
Piper MountainCalifornia1994
Piute MountainsCalifornia1994
Pole CreekIdaho2009, 2019
Potrillo MountainsNew Mexico2019
PowderhornColorado1993
Rainbow MountainNevada2002
Rawhide MountainsArizona1990
Red ButteUtah2009
Redfield CanyonArizona1990
Red MountainUtah2009
Red's CanyonUtah2019
Resting Spring RangeCalifornia1994
Rice ValleyCalifornia1994
Rio San AntonioNew Mexico2019
Riverside MountainsCalifornia1994
Robledo MountainsNew Mexico2019
Rocks and IslandsCalifornia2006
Rodman MountainsCalifornia1994
SabinosoNew Mexico2009
Sacatar TrailCalifornia1994
Saddle Peak HillsCalifornia1994
San GorgonioCalifornia1994
San Rafael ReefUtah2019
Santa LuciaCalifornia1978
Santa RosaCalifornia1994, 2009
Sawtooth MountainsCalifornia1994
Sheephole ValleyCalifornia1994
Sid's MountainUtah2019
Sierra de las UvasNew Mexico2019
Sierra EstrellaArizona1990
Signal MountainArizona1990
Slaughter CreekUtah2009
Soda MountainOregon2009
Soda MountainsCalifornia2019
South Egan RangeNevada2006
South Fork Eel RiverCalifornia2006
South Jackson MountainsNevada2000
South Maricopa MountainsArizona1990
South McCulloughNevada2002
South Nopah RangeCalifornia1994
South Pahroc RangeNevada2004
Spirit MountainNevada2002
Spring BasinOregon2009
StatelineCalifornia1994
Steens MountainOregon2000
Stepladder MountainsCalifornia1994
Surprise CanyonCalifornia1994
SwanseaArizona1990
Sylvania MountainsCalifornia1994
Table RockOregon1984
Table TopArizona1990
Taylor CreekUtah2009
Tres AlamosArizona1990
Trigo MountainsArizona1990
TrilobiteCalifornia1994
Tunnel SpringNevada2004
Turtle CanyonUtah2019
Turtle MountainsCalifornia1994
UncompahgreColorado1993
Upper Burro CreekArizona1990
VentanaCalifornia2002
Wabayuma PeakArizona1990
Warm SpringsArizona1990
Wee Thump Joshua TreeNevada2002
Weepah SpringNevada2004
West MalpaisNew Mexico1987
Whipple MountainsCalifornia1994
White CanyonArizona1990
White CloudsIdaho2015
WhitehornNew Mexico2019
White MountainsCalifornia2009
White Rock RangeNevada2004
Wild RogueOregon1978
Woolsey PeakArizona1990
Worthington MountainsNevada2004
Yolla Bolly–Middle EelCalifornia1984
Yuki WildernessCalifornia2006

Wilderness study areas

There are 487 wilderness study areas with a total area of.

National historic trails

As of January 2026, there are 14 sites totaling.
Distances and states are noted for BLM lands only.
Historic trailBLM statesBLM distance
CaliforniaCA, ID, NV, OR, UT, WY
Captain John Smith ChesapeakeMD
El Camino Real de Tierra AdentroNM
IditarodAK
Juan Bautista de AnzaAZ, CA
Lewis and ClarkID, MT
Mormon PioneerWY
Nez PerceID, MT, WY
Old SpanishAZ, CA, CO, NV, NM, UT
OregonID, OR, WY
Pony ExpressNV, UT, WY
Star-Spangled BannerMD
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary RouteVA

National scenic trails

As of January 2026, there are 5 units totaling.
Distances and states are noted for BLM lands only.
Scenic trailBLM statesBLM distance
ArizonaAZ
Continental DivideCO, ID, MT, NM, WY
Pacific CrestCA, OR
Pacific NorthwestWA
Potomac HeritageMD

National wild and scenic rivers

As of January 2026, there are 81 sites, totaling. The land within these sites total.

Other

As of January 2026, there are 7 sites totaling.
SiteStateEstablishedFederal areaNon-Federal areaTotal area
Alabama Hills National Scenic AreaCalifornia2019
Headwaters Forest ReserveCalifornia1999
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural AreaFlorida2008
National Conservation Lands of the California DesertCalifornia2016
Piedras Blancas Light Station Outstanding Natural AreaCalifornia2008
Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection AreaOregon2000
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural AreaOregon1980