Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Although this area is significantly smaller than the adjacent Mt. Charleston Wilderness and La Madre Mountain Wilderness, the terrain consists of beautiful vertical red and buff sandstone cliffs, capped by limestone in some areas, that are deeply incised by narrow, twisting canyons carpeted with vegetation. The area contains one perennial stream. Elevations range from 4,400 feet to some of the high points including Mount Wilson at 7,070 feet and Rainbow Mountain at 6,924 feet in elevation. This Wilderness is located approximately 12 miles west of Las Vegas, Nevada, and is jointly managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Nevada |
| Size | 24,783 acres |
| Designated | 2002, by Congress |
| Center point | 36.08° N, 115.51° 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 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.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedLovell Rx
8 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
- 11.4 miGoodsprings Schoolhouse ↗Goodsprings, NV
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Nevada
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Rainbow Mountain Wilderness?
24,783 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Rainbow Mountain Wilderness?
Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service share management. The Bureau of Land Management portion is the largest in the wilderness record.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Rainbow Mountain Wilderness in?
Nevada.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Rainbow Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2002.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Rainbow 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 Rainbow Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 36.081° N, 115.510° W. Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument is 19 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Rainbow Mountain Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Lovell Rx at 8 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Rainbow Mountain Wilderness?
Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (19 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Rainbow Mountain Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Goodsprings Schoolhouse.
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.