BLM · Arizona

Mount Wilson Wilderness

Only 30 miles from Las Vegas, Nevada, Mount Wilson Wilderness encompasses eight miles of Wilson Ridge, which rises from nearly 2,000 feet in the eastern portion of the Wilderness to its summit on Mount Wilson at 5,445 feet in the northwest corner. The high country along Wilson Ridge rises in places to more than 3,000 feet above the desert floor, providing eye-stretching views over Lake Mead and the colored cliffs, badlands, mountains, and deserts in the distance. Approaching this area from U.S. 93, you'll see a stark and forbidding landscape, a harsh and seemingly waterless countryside.

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Mount Wilson Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byBureau of Land Management
StateArizona
Size23,900 acres
Designated1990, by Congress
Center point35.96° N, 114.58° W
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 28)

Boundary map

1 outline

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

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Mount Wilson Wilderness50°60°70°80°90°100°January: 0.65 inches of precipitationFebruary: 0.99 inches of precipitationMarch: 0.69 inches of precipitationApril: 0.32 inches of precipitationMay: 0.14 inches of precipitationJune: 0.05 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.18 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.23 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.23 inches of precipitationOctober: 0.61 inches of precipitationNovember: 0.33 inches of precipitationDecember: 0.55 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 53.5°F averageFebruary: 57.8°F averageMarch: 64.8°F averageApril: 72.3°F averageMay: 81.7°F averageJune: 91.6°F averageJuly: 96.9°F averageAugust: 95.7°F averageSeptember: 87.9°F averageOctober: 75.5°F averageNovember: 62.4°F averageDecember: 52.9°F average0 in0.5 in1 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Willow Beach, 8 miles from the center point at 740 feet, station USC00029376 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 5 inches a year. The station sits about 3,000 feet lower than the center point, so temperatures on the ground run cooler.

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

Campsite Atlas →

None of the 2 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

National Register listings within 15 miles · 2 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Guidebooks for Arizona

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 Mount Wilson Wilderness?

23,900 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Mount Wilson Wilderness?

The Bureau of Land Management.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Mount Wilson Wilderness in?

Arizona.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Mount Wilson Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1990.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Can I camp at Mount Wilson 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 Mount Wilson Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 35.962° N, 114.579° W. Lake Mead National Recreation Area is 10 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Which national parks are near Mount Wilson Wilderness?

Lake Mead National Recreation Area (10 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.

Source: Nearby on the other atlases

Are there historic places near Mount Wilson 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.