States with most remote backcountry

[3325]

Most remote place in the lower 48 from a road sits in NW WY. I ride my horses there almost every summer. 30+miles from a road in any direction. The Frank is nasty and rugged and remote, but has access from a lot of points, and has airstrips all over.

The joke even in the ‘90s was that it was an outfitter’s convention on Yellowstone Meadows when Cutthroat were running up the river out of Yellowstone Lake.

 

[3325]

I stand corrected, it’s not the most remote.

According to most sources, the most remote GPS spot in the lower 48 United States is located within the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, specifically a location called "Hawks Rest," which is situated over 30 miles from any accessible road, deep within the Teton Wilderness area.

This is correct. See my post #41 above.

 

[3325]

Herein lies an important point to the OP. Hawks rest IS the most ‘remote’, but is also home to a small town sized outfitter camp.

Ding, ding, ding for the third time. I first experienced the “outfitter convention” in the summer of 1990.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

I have been amazed on several occasions when I was away back and wondered if anyone one else had ever been to this area, then I find signs that indeed someone had been here. I would think AK may be the only state where being far away from signs of civilization is possible.

 

[mntnguide]

The joke even in the ‘90s was that it was an outfitter’s convention on Yellowstone Meadows when Cutthroat were running up the river out of Yellowstone Lake.

Yea, then it calmed down when the fishing went to hell for a while. But now that its back, its busy as hell up there in late June/early July. but you go in august, you wont see anyone for the most part. When i was guiding pack trips 15 years ago up there, it wasnt busy at all during the fishing season. But, the fishing has been worth the trip for me, havent missed a trip in quite a few years. Gone solo a few times just on a quick trip, but doubt ill go back for it this year. Rather hit the winds or somewhere else.

 

[JohnnyB]

Surprisingly, I ran into more people in the Frank last spring than I have in the past three seasons in some California wilderness areas. I also saw more mule deer in one day in the Frank than I have in California wilderness areas.

Whenever I get to a very isolated place that has clearly never been explored by modern humans, I scan the nooks and crannies of rock outcroppings and sure enough an old, rusted Coors pull tab can is wedged in there to remind me that my forefathers had already been there.

 

[WCB]

Not to mention that most of the time even 1 mile of off trail travel SUCKS let alone 5 miles of bushwacking.

? depends on where you are. I've went 5 miles and might as well been walking on a golf course just longer grass and a bit steeper.

I have also been 50ft off FS road and had to come out multiple times to find another way through. Distance has nothing to due with difficulty in my opinion.

 

[3325]

Whenever I get to a very isolated place that has clearly never been explored by modern humans, I scan the nooks and crannies of rock outcroppings and sure enough an old, rusted Coors pull tab can is wedged in there to remind me that my forefathers had already been there.

Many years ago, decades now, there was an Idaho old timer living on the Salmon River named Sylvan Hart. He was known colloquially as, "Buckskin Billy."

Sylvan Ambrose Hart - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Billy was a bit of an eccentric, and something of a recluse, although not really a hermit. There was a book out about him called, "The Last of the Mountain Men." An interesting read.

Amazon.com

Well, in the book, ol' Billy said something to the effect that anytime he thought he was someplace untouched by man the next thing he knew he would trip over a woman's shoe. And Billy started living in the Salmon River country in the 1920s.

 

[TaperPin]

Not really backcountry, but the discussion reminded me of a friend from Nebraska who came along antelope hunting in Wyoming one year. He said it felt really uncomfortable being so remote, 20 miles from blacktop or some kind of store or gas station.

I never would have thought a guy growing up in flat farm country would say that, but it makes sense when there’s a little store every five miles in his part of Nebraska. *chuckle*

 

[3325]

My rule of thumb these days is to avoid places that are a "destination." I know something might be a destination when it has a reputation for remoteness, or it's in a designated wilderness area, or it has a romantic sounding name, or at least it has the word "peak" or "lake" in the name.

As some have mentioned, having a day of secluded hunting is often still possible closer in when you learn the little "hidey holes." These usually take some time (seasons) to learn, and they change periodically according to weather, fire, and other factors, so periodically you are relearning them. That can make it difficult for NRs, sometimes almost impossible, unless they have a local friend.

These realities don't lend much to romantic notions, but Lewis and Clark have been gone for a while, so there it is.

 

[dtrkyman]

I hit a walk in only spot to hunt turkeys a couple years ago, only one access point and to say it was busy is an understatement, I got a bird but have not been back since then!


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[grfox92]

The answer to this question, if not Alaska, is Wyoming.

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[AK Troutbum]

No doubt in my mind, Alaska.
I can go hundred of miles in a boat, atv, or snowmobile and not see a road, town, or a fence.

You mean snow machine, right?


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