Understanding Public Land: Different Federal Distinctions

No matter how you choose to enjoy them, the United States’ public lands are arguably one of the nation’s most valuable assets. They provide access to vast areas for recreation, employ countless people, contribute to the national and small town economies, and are home to indispensable natural resources, from timber to grazing land.

Understanding the history and policy that governs public land is the first step towards protecting it.

Federal public land is broken down into a variety of types, which determine how they can be used, who they are managed by, and the overall mission for each specific land parcel.

Federal public land is located all across the country, but is primarily concentrated in the western states and Alaska and makes up close to a third of the total country. This pattern mirrors European settlement in the West, where eastern industrial capitals were first to be urbanized before homesteaders and miners ventured westward, displacing Indigenous Americans through violence and disease.

Large amounts of land ultimately became private ranches or homesteads, but other areas remained under the government’s control. Agencies were created to manage them over time, leading to the complex system of distinctions and regulations that’s in place today.

The federal public land we recreate on it is mostly under the control of two main agencies, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI). Both of these departments have many additional roles beyond managing public land. For the sake of simplicity, this introduction will focus on the major players impacting outdoor recreation. 

The US Forest Service (USFS) was formed by Congress in 1905 with the goal of managing natural resources, most specifically timber. Over time, the agency’s mission shifted to include more uses for National Forests beyond logging alone, including recreation. 

The DOI manages many agencies pertaining to public land. These three have some of the greatest impact on outdoor recreationists. 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was formally created in 1946, but is the culmination of two much older agencies, the General Land Office and US Grazing Service, both of which were originally formed to facilitate homesteading in the West. The BLM manages the largest amount of public land in the country. Like USFS land, BLM land is often allocated for activities like grazing that utilize natural resources, as well as for recreation. 

The National Parks Service (NPS) is likely the most well known public land management agency for people seeking to enjoy the outdoors. NPS was created in 1916 and manages areas including national parks, preserves, seashores/lakeshores, historic sites, battlefields, etc. The activities that can occur on this land are preservation oriented and typically more restricted. 

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) manages the National Wildlife Refuge System, which arose in 1940. These areas are federally protected in order to preserve ecosystems for fish, migratory birds, and other native wildlife.

These individual agencies do not exist in a vacuum and often have to collaborate to manage certain areas.

For example, NPS, BLM, or USFS land can have sections which are classified as wilderness and operate under a separate set of guidelines regarding usage and maintenance (a more detailed explanation of the Wilderness Act will be coming soon).

This is a lot of information to take in, but only a light overview of federal public land management. 

No matter if you’re a horseback rider, thru-hiker, trail runner, backcountry hunter, or any other version of outdoor lover, the way you’re allowed to occupy and interact with public land is determined by how it is classified and which department is responsible for its management. 

Like past eras of history, a slew of threatening legislation has been directed at public land in 2025. Before we can effectively advocate for the continued protection of our favorite places, it’s integral to understand how they are managed. 

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I hope you found this helpful! Please send any questions/clarifications to rideroutsideinfo@gmail.com 

Sources:

​​American Trails Staff. “What Are Public Lands?” American Trails, October 10, 2024. https://www.americantrails.org/resources/what-are-public-lands. 

Mott, Nick. “Public Lands Types.” Better Trail, March 24, 2025. https://bettertrail.com/public-lands/public-lands-101-public-lands-types. 

“America’s Public Lands Explained.” U.S. Department of the Interior, January 31, 2023. https://www.doi.gov/blog/americas-public-lands-explained. 

“Types of Public Land: Understanding Federal Land Designations.” onX Maps, February 25, 2025. https://www.onxmaps.com/blog/federal-public-land-guide.