Big Jacks Creek Wilderness
The Big Jacks Creek Wilderness, in the Big Jacks Creek Basin, consists of rugged canyons, streams and plateaus that provide habitat for redband trout, mountain quail and bighorn sheep, as well as two sensitive plant species. The basin ranges in elevation from 2,808 to 5,872 feet and drains a sagebrush-covered plateau dissected by rugged, sheer-walled canyons that are as much as 650 feet deep. Big Jacks Creek flows north into the Bruneau River, a tributary of the Snake River. The basin is covered by big sagebrush, low sagebrush, salt desert shrub, and riparian vegetation communities.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Idaho |
| Size | 52,753 acres |
| Designated | 2009, by Congress |
| Center point | 42.59° N, 116.06° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 22) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
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
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Bosh Piles
33 mi from the center point · 121 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 2.6 miWickahoney Post Office and Stage Station ↗Wickahoney, ID
- 13.8 miBruneau Episcopal Church ↗Bruneau, ID
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Idaho
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Big Jacks Creek Wilderness?
52,753 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Big Jacks Creek Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Big Jacks Creek Wilderness in?
Idaho.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Big Jacks Creek Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2009.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Big Jacks Creek Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 42.587° N, 116.060° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Big Jacks Creek Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx Bosh Piles at 33 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Big Jacks Creek Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Wickahoney Post Office and Stage Station and Bruneau Episcopal Church.
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.
- 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.