Wilderness experiences as sanctuary and refuge from society

Wilderness areas provide a sanctuary from human domination, for the plants and animals that exist there and also for the visitors who come there to escape the demands and pressures of modern society. As a place of refuge and sanctuary, we have found wilderness to allow experiences of connection, engagement and belonging. Two studies help illustrate the role of wildness (freedom from intentional human control) in wilderness, one focusing on gendered experiences of wilderness and another considering spiritual experiences in wilderness. Following the intent of Howard Zahniser, architect of the Wilderness Act of 1964, we call on managers to maintain the freedom and wildness of wilderness, lightening the burden on nature and on the experience of nature.