High Schells Wilderness
The High Schells Wilderness contains some of the most dramatic scenery in Eastern Nevada. There are many high windswept peaks over 11,500 feet. Deep Glaciated valleys flow from the high peaks which are snowy for much of the year. Many of the valleys contain vast aspen stands and perennial streams. Ancient bristlecone and large limber pines are present in the higher elevation forests. This Mountain Range supports diverse wildlife and is an important north-south corridor of uninterrupted wild land. Hikers and equestrian enjoy the primitive trails in most valleys, and back country skiers explore the area in winter and spring. The area lies just east of Ely in Eastern Nevada.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Nevada |
| Size | 121,449 acres |
| Designated | 2006, by Congress |
| Center point | 39.34° N, 114.60° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 19) |
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 4 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.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 campground. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 5 miTimber Creek Campground ↗Campground
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
13 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 41 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Faun ↗ | 6.8 | |
| Kolcheck ↗ | 6.6 | |
| Berry Creek ↗ | 4.5 | |
| North Fork Cleve Creek | 4.4 | |
| Piermont Creek | 3.5 | |
| North Fork Timber Creek | 2.1 | |
| Bastian Basin Trail | 2 | |
| Taft Creek | 2 | |
| Kraft Canyon | 1.9 | |
| North Fork Berry Creek | 1.9 |
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
- PrescribedWard Terrace Rx
25 mi from the center point
- PrescribedBaker Creek Rx
31 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
- 9.3 miEast Ely Depot ↗National Historic Landmark
- 9.5 miNNRy Locomotive #40 ↗National Historic Landmark
- 6 miNevada Northern Railway--McGill Depot ↗McGill, NV
- 6.2 miAmerican Legion Hall ↗McGill, NV
- 6.2 miMcGill Drug Store ↗McGill, NV
- 10.2 miCentral Theater ↗Ely, NV
- 10.6 mi
- 10.6 mi
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Nevada
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 High Schells Wilderness?
121,449 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages High Schells Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is High Schells Wilderness in?
Nevada.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was High Schells Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2006.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at High Schells 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 High Schells Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 39.340° N, 114.599° W. Great Basin National Park is 20 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near High Schells 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
Which national parks are near High Schells Wilderness?
Great Basin National Park (20 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near High Schells Wilderness?
The National Register has 11 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.
- 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.