Desolation Canyon Wilderness
The most prominent feature of the Desolation Canyon Wilderness is the 84-mile segment of the Green River through Desolation and Gray Canyons. The Wilderness has an extensive system of deep canyons. The canyon at Rock Creek is more than 1 mile deep. The Wilderness contains arches, pinnacles, and other erosional remnants not known to occur elsewhere in the Wasatch Formation in similar concentrations or settings. Elevations within the wilderness vary by 5,600 feet. Vegetation is diverse, ranging from desert to high mountain types in a distance of only 5-10 miles, including pinyon-juniper woodland, Douglas fir, riparian, saltbrush, grassland, mountain mahogany, sagebrush, and blackbrush. Rocky mountain bighorn sheep frequent the Wilderness.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Utah |
| Size | 142,996 acres |
| Designated | 2019, by Congress |
| Center point | 39.28° N, 110.16° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 27) |
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 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- WildfireSlough Canyon
14 mi from the center point · 4,774 acres · 95% contained
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
- 3.5 miJohnson Ranch House ↗Crescent Junction, UT
- 5.2 miGreen River Presbyterian Church ↗Green River, UT
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Utah
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Desolation Canyon Wilderness?
142,996 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Desolation Canyon Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Desolation Canyon Wilderness in?
Utah.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Desolation Canyon Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2019.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Desolation 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 Desolation Canyon Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 39.277° N, 110.164° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Desolation Canyon Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Slough Canyon at 14 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Desolation Canyon Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Johnson Ranch House and Green River Presbyterian 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.