Arc Dome Wilderness
The Arc Dome Wilderness comprises the southern third of the Toiyabe Range, a rugged spine of mountains with difficult access, and includes the range's highest summits. Much of the Wilderness lies above 10,000 feet, but Arc Dome itself, at 11,775 feet, dominates the area. On the west side, the ground rises gradually from the Reese River Valley; on the east, rocky canyons break up steep inclines. Much of the high country is open, affording visitors outstanding expansive views. Vegetation consists of sagebrush and grass lower down, and gives way to pinion-juniper higher up, with occasional stands of pine and aspen.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Nevada |
| Size | 120,551 acres |
| Designated | 1989, by Congress |
| Center point | 38.81° N, 117.34° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 20) |
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 2 recreation sites inside this wilderness, among them 2 trailheads. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 6 miCow Canyon Trailhead ↗Trailhead · May to October
- 7 miToms Canyon Trailhead ↗Trailhead · May to October
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
22 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 154 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Toiyabe Crest Natl Rec Trail ↗ | 62.7 | |
| Weeks Canyon ↗ | 11.6 | |
| Jett Creek/Sheep Canyon ↗ | 9 | |
| Peavine Canyon ↗ | 7.8 | |
| Barney Meadows ↗ | 7.6 | |
| Tom'S Canyon Trail ↗ | 7.1 | |
| North Twin River ↗ | 6.9 | |
| Reese River Trail ↗ | 5.7 | |
| Pablo Canyon ↗ | 5.3 | |
| Twin Rivers Connector ↗ | 5 |
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
- 8 miBerg, William H., House ↗Round Mountain, 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 Arc Dome Wilderness?
120,551 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Arc Dome Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Arc Dome Wilderness in?
Nevada.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Arc Dome Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1989.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Arc Dome 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 Arc Dome Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 38.809° N, 117.340° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Arc Dome Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Berg, William H., House.
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.