Eldorado Wilderness
The Eldorado Wilderness is a rugged maze of peaks and side canyons. The Eldorado Range is volcanic rock with basalt flows on a base of metamorphic rock. A bajada, or wide, gentle slope, extends northwest of the mountains. This forms a stark and colorful landscape bridging the expanse between U.S. Highway 95 and the Colorado River 40 miles south of Las Vegas. Creosote bush, scrub oak, clump grass, and various cacti cover the intense terrain. This creates a natural habitat for bighorn sheep in the higher elevations. Wildlife is abundant with these bighorn sheep and migrating birds near the river. Despite a long history of tribal habitation, abandoned mine sites are the only evidence of human activity in the region.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service |
| State | Nevada |
| Size | 32,016 acres |
| Designated | 2002, by Congress |
| Center point | 35.81° N, 114.76° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 25) |
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.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 6.1 miBoulder Dam Hotel ↗Boulder City, NV
- 6.1 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 Eldorado Wilderness?
32,016 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Eldorado Wilderness?
Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service share management. The Bureau of Land Management portion is the largest in the wilderness record.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Eldorado Wilderness in?
Nevada.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Eldorado Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2002.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Eldorado 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 Eldorado Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 35.807° N, 114.758° W. Lake Mead National Recreation Area is 22 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Eldorado Wilderness?
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (22 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Eldorado 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.
- 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.