Black Rock Desert Wilderness
The Black Rock Desert Wilderness, which contains the eastern arm of the Black Rock Desert, is the largest Wilderness managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The Black Rock Desert is the dry lakebed of ancient Lake Lahonton, which contains important paleological resources along the old lakeshore. Several mammoths and a saber tooth tiger have been excavated from the area. Vegetation in the area consists mainly of saltbush and greasewood. Large portions of the area are unvegetated. Wildlife in the area include; mule deer, pronghorn antelope, mountain lions, coyotes, and sagegrouse. Elevations range from 3,900 to 5,931 feet on top of Elephant Mountain.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Nevada |
| Size | 314,835 acres |
| Designated | 2000, by Congress |
| Center point | 41.22° N, 118.75° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 39) |
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 Black Rock Desert Wilderness?
314,835 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Black Rock Desert Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Black Rock Desert Wilderness in?
Nevada.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Black Rock Desert Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2000.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Black Rock Desert Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 41.215° N, 118.754° 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.