A man with his bike watches the sun behind the clouds at Cline Butte, Oregon. Photo by Bob Wick, BLM.

Recreation Activities

On approximately 250 million acres of public lands, visitors enjoy countless types of outdoor adventure – participating in activities as widely varied as camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, boating, whitewater rafting, hang gliding, off-highway vehicle driving, mountain biking, birding and wildlife viewing, photography, climbing, all types of winter sports, and visiting natural and cultural heritage sites. 

In an increasingly urbanized West, these recreational opportunities and the settings where these activities take place are vital to the quality of life enjoyed by residents of western states, as well as national and international visitors.

The BLM offers diverse trails to explore for mountain biking and using E-Bikes.
The BLM offers diverse trails to explore for mountain biking and using E-Bikes.
Recreation Mountain Biking
The BLM offers campsites for both RV's and tents.
The BLM offers campsites for both RV's and tents.
Recreation Camping Photo
Explore opportunities for rock climbing with nearby camp sites available.
Explore opportunities for rock climbing with nearby camp sites available.
Recreation Climbing Photo
The BLM offers a variety of opportunities for horseback riding and pack stock trips across America’s public lands.
The BLM offers a variety of opportunities for horseback riding and pack stock trips across America’s public lands.
Trailhead sign for a BLM-managed equestrian trail with surrounding forest.
BLM Back Country Byways provide “off-the-beaten-path” adventures through diverse landscape settings.
BLM Back Country Byways provide “off-the-beaten-path” adventures through diverse landscape settings.
Owyhee Uplands Backcounry Byway
Walk along BLM's various hiking paths throughout the country.
Walk along BLM's various hiking paths throughout the country.
Recreation Hiking Photo
The BLM provides opportunities to hunt and fish in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
The BLM provides opportunities to hunt and fish in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
A hunter and his dog cross the fields at Upper Missouri River Breaks in Montana.  Photo by Bob Wick, BLM.
Tour BLM's numerous trails
for Off Highway Vehicles.
Tour BLM's numerous trails
for Off Highway Vehicles.
Recreation OHV Photo
The BLM provides opportunities to engage in shooting sports activities in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
The BLM provides opportunities to engage in shooting sports activities in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
boy shooting at a target with man watching
Learn more about rockhounding on public lands, frequently asked questions, guides, and places to go.
Learn more about rockhounding on public lands, frequently asked questions, guides, and places to go.
Elderly rounhounder shows a cool find to a fellow hiker in Afton Canyon in California's Mojave Trail National Monument.