BLM · Nevada

Tunnel Spring Wilderness

Clustered together with Cougar Canyon, Slaughter Creek, and Doc's Pass Wilderness areas along the Utah state line, Tunnel Springs Wilderness sits in a remote area of eastern Nevada. It is a land of steep, mountainous canyons, long ridges and rough drainages. Located at the head of Beaver Dam Wash, elevations in this Wilderness range from 5,000 to 6,700 feet. Various types of volcanic rock predominates. Vegetation is mostly pinyon-juniper and sagebrush, with riparian tree species along streams. Five to seven miles of streams support trout fisheries, which is unusual in this desert region. The creek in Beaver Dam Wash is known to be inhabited by the Virgin River spinedance, speckled dace, desert sucker, and rainbow trout.

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Tunnel Spring Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byBureau of Land Management
StateNevada
Size5,341 acres
Designated2004, by Congress
Center point37.54° N, 114.09° W
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 22)

Boundary map

1 outline

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

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Tunnel Spring Wilderness30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 31.2°F averageFebruary: 34.8°F averageMarch: 41.7°F averageApril: 47.7°F averageMay: 57.1°F averageJune: 66.5°F averageJuly: 74.0°F averageAugust: 72.0°F averageSeptember: 63.7°F averageOctober: 51.5°F averageNovember: 38.4°F averageDecember: 30.4°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Modena, 20 miles from the center point at 5,460 feet, station USW00023177 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

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

Campsite Atlas →

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

Within 50 miles · as of 2026-11-01
  • Prescribed
    Harmony Ranch Community Rx

    47 mi from the center point

  • Prescribed
    Harmony Mountain Rx

    47 mi from the center point

  • Prescribed
    Bumblebee South Rx

    48 mi from the center point

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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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 Tunnel Spring Wilderness?

5,341 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Tunnel Spring Wilderness?

The Bureau of Land Management.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Tunnel Spring Wilderness in?

Nevada.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Tunnel Spring Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 2004.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How do I get to Tunnel Spring Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 37.541° N, 114.091° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Is there a fire near Tunnel Spring Wilderness right now?

3 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Harmony Ranch Community Rx at 47 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.