Black Canyon Wilderness
The power of water and time is nowhere more clearly articulated than on the walls, cliffs and buttresses that comprise the Black Canyon Wilderness. Countless millennia of the Colorado River's diligent carving have created a truly spectacular landscape of indescribable scale. With sheer cliff walls towering over narrow slot canyons, countless waterfalls smoothing and cutting deeper into the limestone and immense walls dominating the terrain, this wilderness is as rugged as they come. Navigating the meandering canyons can be intimidating and confusing, so take your time and be aware of where you are. The utmost care must be given to every step when traversing and down-climbing the chutes.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | Nevada |
| Size | 17,220 acres |
| Designated | 2002, by Congress |
| Center point | 35.92° N, 114.74° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 26) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
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 5 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
6 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 24 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Black Canyon ↗ | 11.6 | |
| South Prong ↗ | 5.5 | |
| Payten | 3.6 | |
| Kelsey | 1.7 | |
| Coffee Pot | 0.9 | |
| Owl Creek | 0.5 |
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
- 2.4 miBoulder Dam Hotel ↗Boulder City, NV
- 2.4 miOld Boulder City Hospital ↗Boulder City, NV
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Nevada
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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 Black Canyon Wilderness?
17,220 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Black Canyon Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Black Canyon Wilderness in?
Nevada.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Black Canyon Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2002.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Black Canyon 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 Black Canyon Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 35.923° N, 114.737° W. Lake Mead National Recreation Area is 19 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Black Canyon Wilderness?
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (19 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Black Canyon Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Boulder Dam Hotel and Old Boulder City Hospital.
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.