Nelson Mountain Wilderness
The Nelson Mountain Wilderness is located at the eastern edge of the Manti-Lasal National Forest. Formerly a research natural area, Nelson Mountain stands 9070 feet above the surrounding landscape. The Wilderness is located near the San Rafael Swell, which features magnificent badlands of brightly colored and wildly eroded sandstone formations, deep canyons, and giant plates of stone tilted upright through massive geologic upheaval. This landscape reveals a geological history laid bare through millennia of upheaval and erosion. The geologic history of the San Rafael Swell area began 40 to 60 million years ago when a massive uplift formed a geologic antic line.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Utah |
| Size | 7,179 acres |
| Designated | 2019, by Congress |
| Center point | 39.03° N, 111.23° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 27) |
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 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
2 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 12 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Hole Trail ↗ | 6.7 | |
| Dry Wash ↗ | 5.2 |
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
- Prescribed12 Mile Rx
23 mi from the center point · 350 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
- 3.7 miEmery Lds Church ↗Emery, UT
- 4.3 miSingleton, Samuel, House ↗Ferron, UT
- 4.3 miFerron Presbyterian Church and Cottage ↗Ferron, UT
- 11.2 miMadsen, David and Evinda, House ↗Ephraim, UT
- 14.1 miCastle Dale Bridge ↗Castle Dale, UT
- 14.3 miSeeley, Justis Wellington Ii, House ↗Castle Dale, UT
- 14.4 miChristensen, Paul C., House ↗Castle Dale, UT
- 14.5 miCastle Dale High School Shop ↗Castle Dale, UT
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Utah
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 Nelson Mountain Wilderness?
7,179 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Nelson Mountain Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Nelson Mountain Wilderness in?
Utah.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Nelson Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2019.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Nelson Mountain 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 Nelson Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 39.035° N, 111.227° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Nelson Mountain Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest 12 Mile Rx at 23 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Nelson Mountain Wilderness?
The National Register has 9 listings within 15 miles, including Emery Lds Church and Singleton, Samuel, House.
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.