United States Department of Agriculture
Forest Service

  
  ROS Primer and Field Guide

remoteness icon Remoteness

Remoteness refers to the extent to which individuals perceive themselves removed from the sights and sounds of human activity. A lack of remoteness is important for some setting experiences.

* Out of sight and sound of human activity. More than 1 and 1/2 hr. walk. Distant sight and/or sound of human activity. More than 1/2 hr. walk from any motorized travel. Distant sight and/or sound of human activity. More than 1/2 hr. walk from any better-than-primitive roads. Remoteness of little relevance
Primitive Norm Incon. Unacceptable Unacceptable Unacceptable
Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized Compatible Norm Incon. Unacceptable Unacceptable
Semi-Primitive Motorized Compatible Compatible Norm Incon. Unacceptable
Roaded Natural Compatible Compatible Compatible Norm Norm
Rural Compatible Compatible Compatible Compatible Norm
Urban Compatible Compatible Compatible Compatible Norm

* Legislative direction: e.g., Wilderness act, may require primitive management on lands less remote than this.

photograph: a remote mountain scene

This model exemplifies the way in which the opportunity for a sense of remoteness is maintained in a wilderness or backcountry area (beyond the ridgetop). Cable yarding and loading of logs is performed on a road at the bottom of the slope, rather than at the ridgetop, to maintain distance and landform screens from motorized activity.

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