Big Rocks Wilderness
The Big Rocks Wilderness lies to the north of the South Pahroc Range Wilderness and encompasses the southernmost portion of the North Pahroc Range. The topography of the area includes steep-sided mountains, several canyons and a section of large, jumbled boulders known as Mecca by the rock-climbing community. Elevations, here, range from 5,200 to 7,000 feet. Vegetation ranges from desert brush and grass at the lower elevations to pinyon and juniper stands at the middle and upper elevations. Many common desert species can be seen in this area, however the most notable would be the raptors. The area is composed of large boulder fields and varying colored layers of welded tuff that have weathered into unusual rock formations.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Nevada |
| Size | 12,930 acres |
| Designated | 2004, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.70° N, 114.96° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 25) |
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.
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Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Big Rocks Wilderness?
12,930 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Big Rocks Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Big Rocks Wilderness in?
Nevada.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Big Rocks Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2004.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Big Rocks Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.698° N, 114.962° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
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.