Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness
The Boulder Mountains, one of Idaho's highest and wildest ranges, are rich with human history and home to an abundance of wildlife. Amidst the towering multi-hued peaks you can listen for the howl of wolves echoing off canyon walls, sense the presence of early Native Americans, find relics of Idaho's mining boom, discover true adventure and challenge yourself. The dramatic 4000-foot rise of the Boulder Front, as seen from Highway 75 just north of Ketchum and Sun Valley, defines this area for many. However, with 12 summits topping 11,000 feet and only 29 miles of trails, the rich reward for the adventurous lies breathtaking views and solitude found by off-trail exploring and peak climbing.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Idaho |
| Size | 67,993 acres |
| Designated | 2015, by Congress |
| Center point | 43.90° N, 114.49° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 20) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
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 9 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.
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Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 2 recreation sites inside this wilderness, among them 1 trailhead, 1 backpacking. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 4 miNorth Fork Wood River Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 1 miHemingway-Boulders Wilderness ↗Backpacking
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
7 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 36 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Bowery Creek ↗ | 10.7 | |
| North Fork West Pass ↗ | 8.6 | |
| West Fork-North Fork | 4 | |
| East Fork/North Fork | 3.4 | |
| Murdock Creek | 3.4 | |
| Amber Gulch | 3.3 | |
| Upper North Fork | 2.7 |
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.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedParadise Rx
24 mi from the center point · 400 acres
- WildfireEast Fork
29 mi from the center point · 266 acres · 60% 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
- 5.3 miProctor Mountain Ski Lift ↗Sun Valley, ID
- 6.4 miGreenhow and Rumsey Store Building ↗Ketchum, ID
- 6.5 miBald Mountain Hot Springs ↗Ketchum, ID
- 6.5 mi
- 8.4 miCold Springs Pegram Truss Railroad Bridge ↗Ketchum, ID
- 12.1 miGimlet Pegram Truss Railroad Bridge ↗Ketchum, ID
- 13.2 miIdaho Mining and Smelter Company Store ↗Clayton, ID
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Idaho
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 Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness?
67,993 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness in?
Idaho.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2015.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Hemingway-Boulders 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 Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 43.900° N, 114.487° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Paradise Rx at 24 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness?
The National Register has 7 listings within 15 miles, including Proctor Mountain Ski Lift and Greenhow and Rumsey Store Building.
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.