Muddy Mountains Wilderness
Just an hour north of Las Vegas, Nevada lies the Muddy Mountains Wilderness, a place of wonder and mystery, an area of outrageous geology and colorful Mojave Desert habitat. This region of shadowy slot canyon, striking geological formations and expansive views of Lake Mead is jointly managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service. The Muddy Mountains tower over the red, magenta, and tan colored sandstone exposed through a limestone "window" at Bowl of Fire, Anniversary Narrows, and Hidden Valley. These folded and faulted lands are dominated by a thrust fault of gray limestone over Aztec sandstone. Purple and white mudstone hills and gypsum bearing soils of brown and red hues are present in the lowest elevations.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service |
| State | Nevada |
| Size | 48,154 acres |
| Designated | 2002, by Congress |
| Center point | 36.29° N, 114.72° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 28) |
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 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.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedLovell Rx
50 mi from the center point · 54 acres
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
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Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Muddy Mountains Wilderness?
48,154 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Muddy Mountains 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 Muddy Mountains Wilderness in?
Nevada.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Muddy Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2002.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Muddy Mountains 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 Muddy Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 36.288° N, 114.715° W. Lake Mead National Recreation Area is 24 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Muddy Mountains Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Lovell Rx at 50 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Muddy Mountains Wilderness?
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (24 mi) and Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (29 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
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.