South McCullough Wilderness
The South McCullough Wilderness encompasses the southern portion of the McCullough Range. From a distance, the mountains appear soft, with mellow rounded edges. Upon closer inspection, you will see that the peaks and ridges are rocky and rough, reaching heights over 7,000 feet. The mountains in the South McCullough Wilderness are comprised of dramatic uplifted fault block of gneiss and granite, with steep slopes, narrow deep canyons to the east and west, and deep sandy washes. The mountains are formed of banded and foliated metamorphic rocks, dating back 1.7 million years ago, that have been uplifted and eroded. Bands of quartzite are layered in metamorphic rock, giving the rugged outcrops a striped appearance.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Nevada |
| Size | 43,996 acres |
| Designated | 2002, by Congress |
| Center point | 35.64° N, 115.17° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 26) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
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
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedLovell Rx
44 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
- 10.8 miMurphy Well Corral ↗Nipton, CA
- 12.4 miDove Corral ↗Nipton, CA
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 South McCullough Wilderness?
43,996 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages South McCullough Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is South McCullough Wilderness in?
Nevada.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was South McCullough Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2002.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to South McCullough Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 35.640° N, 115.174° W. Castle Mountains National Monument is 18 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near South McCullough Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Lovell Rx at 44 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near South McCullough Wilderness?
Castle Mountains National Monument (18 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near South McCullough Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Murphy Well Corral and Dove Corral.
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.