In the 1920s, the U.S. Forest Service began to inventory wild places across the country. As a result, 76 primitive areas were established nationwide on U.S. forest land.

That designation remains for the Blue Range Primitive Area in Eastern Arizona. However, the Blue is the last primitive area in the country. Other similar territories have been redesignated as wilderness areas.

Don Hoffman is a resident of the Blue Range Primitive Area and the former executive director of the Arizona Wilderness Coalition. He said changing the designation could help protect the pristine, untouched quality of the area.

You can read more about the story in the July issue of Arizona Highways Magazine.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The story has been updated to reflect the correct issue of Arizona Highways Magazine.

Updated 6/17/2015 at 7:10 a.m.