Bristlecone Wilderness
The Bristlecone Wilderness lies in the Egan Range in eastern Nevada. Heusser Mountain stands at 9,409 feet and provides spectacular views of Steptoe Valley and the Schell Creek Range. Elevations within the Wilderness boundaries range from 7,380 to 9,859 feet. Vegetation consists primarily of desert brush and grass at the lower elevations and a scattering of pinyon pine and juniper stands on the upland slopes. Groves of aspen exist in several drainages, including Rattlesnake Canyon. This area’s namesake, the bristlecone pine, is found in this Wilderness as well, particularly along the northern ridgeline. Spring can be magnificent in this Wilderness, with blooms of globemallow, paintbrush, blue flax, and expanses of arrow-leaf balsam root.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Nevada |
| Size | 14,095 acres |
| Designated | 2006, by Congress |
| Center point | 39.44° N, 114.92° 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
- PrescribedWard Terrace Rx
25 mi from the center point
- PrescribedBaker Creek Rx
48 mi from the center point
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
- 7.3 miEast Ely Depot ↗National Historic Landmark
- 7.3 miNNRy Locomotive #40 ↗National Historic Landmark
- 4.4 miAmerican Legion Hall ↗McGill, NV
- 4.4 miMcGill Drug Store ↗McGill, NV
- 4.6 miNevada Northern Railway--McGill Depot ↗McGill, NV
- 7.8 miCentral Theater ↗Ely, NV
- 7.9 mi
- 8 miCapital Theater ↗Ely, 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 Bristlecone Wilderness?
14,095 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Bristlecone Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Bristlecone Wilderness in?
Nevada.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Bristlecone Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2006.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Bristlecone Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 39.439° N, 114.919° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Bristlecone Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Ward Terrace Rx at 25 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Bristlecone Wilderness?
The National Register has 10 listings within 15 miles, including East Ely Depot and NNRy Locomotive #40.
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.