Wilderness can be understood via individual perceptions that may contrast with legal definitions. This contrast was explored within the Adirondack Park (NY), a unique combination of land uses and stakeholders with a history of conflict over policies that restricted development to conserve natural resources. This research used wilderness perception mapping (WPM) to identify differences between perceived and legal wilderness in the Adirondacks, based on the desirability of landscape characteristics (e.g., maintained campsites) reported by questionnaires. I used this approach to gain insights on differences among stakeholders and communities, and to construct maps of wilderness perceptions to compare with existing land use classifications. Survey and map analyses indicated clear differences among stakeholders, particularly between residents and non-residents, and between legally designated and perceived wilderness areas. These insights contribute to a greater understanding of diverse stakeholder groups and improved management of the Adirondack Park landscape and natural resources.