Alta Toquima Wilderness
The 35,860-acre Alta Toquima Wilderness, designated in 1989 and managed by the Forest Service as part of the Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest, protects a stellar example of Nevada's Basin-and-Range high country. The Wilderness covers much of the Toquima Range, one of hundreds of the lofty, north-south mountain chains that, along with adjoining arid lowlands, constitute the appropriately named Basin-and-Range province that covers Nevada. The Toquima Range is bound on the west by the Big Smoky Valley and on the east by the Monitor Valley. From the Toquima crest, ridges and deep canyons tumble thousands of feet toward the surrounding basins.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Nevada |
| Size | 35,581 acres |
| Designated | 1989, by Congress |
| Center point | 38.79° N, 116.92° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 21) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 trailhead. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 4 miPinecreek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
10 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 54 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Jefferson ↗ | 15.4 | |
| Pine Creek ↗ | 11.4 | |
| Windy Pass ↗ | 4.7 | |
| North Summit Mt. Jefferson | 4.4 | |
| Pasco Canyon | 4 | |
| Trail Canyon Creek | 3.8 | |
| Bucks Canyon | 3.5 | |
| Red Rocks | 2.6 | |
| Middle Summit Mt. Jefferson | 2 | |
| Windy Pass Trail | 1.9 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 5.3 miBerg, William H., House ↗Round Mountain, NV
- 14.4 miManhattan School ↗Manhattan, NV
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Nevada
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Alta Toquima Wilderness?
35,581 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Alta Toquima Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Alta Toquima Wilderness in?
Nevada.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Alta Toquima Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1989.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Alta Toquima Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Alta Toquima Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 38.789° N, 116.925° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Alta Toquima Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Berg, William H., House and Manhattan School.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.