North Fork Owyhee Wilderness
The landscape within the North Fork Owyhee Wilderness, in the southwest part of Idaho near the Oregon border, is diverse, ranging from river canyons over a thousand feet deep to vast expanses of sagebrush and grassland plateaus. Elevations within the Wilderness boundaries range from about 4,800 to 6,800 feet. This ecosystem provides habitat for sage grouse, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, songbirds, raptors, and numerous rare plant species. The river canyons in Owyhee County have been called the largest concentration of sheer-walled volcanic rhyolite and basalt canyons in the western United States. Many of the canyons are more than 1,000 feet deep, nearly twice as deep as the Washington Monument is tall.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Idaho |
| Size | 44,027 acres |
| Designated | 2009, by Congress |
| Center point | 42.62° N, 116.80° 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
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.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Bosh Piles
21 mi from the center point · 121 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.
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Reference
Questions people ask
How big is North Fork Owyhee Wilderness?
44,027 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages North Fork Owyhee Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is North Fork Owyhee Wilderness in?
Idaho.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was North Fork Owyhee Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2009.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at North Fork Owyhee 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 North Fork Owyhee Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 42.616° N, 116.801° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near North Fork Owyhee Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx Bosh Piles at 21 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
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.