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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. The climate is semi-arid, with cold winters and hot summers. Five to seven miles of streams support trout fisheries, which is unusual in this desert region. Mountain lions and a variety of raptors frequent the area. Bird species include: ferruginous hawk, Swainson's hawk, southern spotted owl, long-billed curlew, mountain plover, western snowy plover, western yellow-billed cuckoo, white-faced ibis, and Arizona Bell's vireo. A wide variety of mammals make their homes here including elk, mule deer, mountain lion, ringtail, bobcat, badger, Merriam's kangaroo rat, and both the common and kit fox. The creek in Beaver Dam Wash is known to be inhabited by the Virgin River spinedance, speckled dace, desert sucker and rainbow trout.

The Tunnel Springs Wilderness is adjacent to Nevada's Beaver Dam State Park. Visitors to this Wilderness will experience scenic vistas and outstanding opportunities for backpacking, horseback riding, and primitive camping. This part of Lincoln County is rugged and remote. Visitors should plan carefully and be prepared for backcountry travel conditions. Tunnel Spring Wilderness receives annual precipitation between 14 and 24 inches. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit with temperatures in excess of 90 at higher elevations and day and night temperatures differing by over 30 degrees. Winters are cold and often wet with temperatures ranging from highs of 50 to 60 degrees during the day to lows well below freezing at night. There are no maintained trails in the Wilderness.

Leave No Trace

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply in the Tunnel Spring Wilderness.

Plan Ahead and Prepare
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Other Visitors

For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.

Location

The Tunnel Spring Wilderness is located in northeastern Lincoln, County, Nevada, along the Nevada-Utah state line.
Access to this Wilderness area is by heading 6 miles north of Caliente, then turing eastward for about 30 miles on to the county road leading to Beaver Dam State Park.

Maps

Digital and paper maps are critical tools for wilderness visitors. Online maps can help you plan and prepare for your visit ahead of time. You can also carry digital maps with you on your GPS unit or other handheld GPS device. Having a paper map with you in the backcountry, as well as solid orienteering skills, however, ensures that you can still route-find in the event that your electronic device fails.

Online Maps

Interactive Map of the Tunnel Spring Wilderness
Google Earth

Nevada Wildernesses

Printed Maps

Fetching MyTopo from Database

USGS Store

Rules & Regulations

Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport is generally prohibited in all wilderness areas. This includes the use of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters.

Wilderness-Specific Regulations

Learn more about why regulations may be necessary in wilderness.

Contacts

Applicable Wilderness Law(s)

Public Law 108-424

Date: November 30, 2004
Acreage: 5,371 acres

Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004 - Public law 108-424 (11/30/2004) To establish wilderness areas, promote conservation, improve public land, and provide for the high quality development in Lincoln County, Nevada, and for other purposes.

For more information (To download or see all affected Wilderness areas) visit our law library for 108-424 or special provisions for 108-424 or legislative history for 108-424.

General Trip Planning Information

Tunnel Springs Wilderness is contiguous with the Cougar Canyon Wilderness in Utah.

Recreational Opportunities

Accessible from the Dixie National Forest Pine Park Campground, the area is too rugged for horseback riding, but good for hiking. Solitude is best among the tributaries and main canyons of the Pine Park-Split Pine Hollow, the tributaries and outcrops in the south rim of Pine Park Canyon, and the lower portion of Sheep Corral Canyon.

Safety and Current Conditions

Contact Ely Bureau of Land Management Field Office for current weather, road conditions, and hazards.

Want to Volunteer for Wilderness?

People who volunteer their time to steward our wilderness areas are an essential part of wilderness management. Contact the following groups to inquire about volunteer opportunities. Groups are listed alphabetically by the state(s) in which the wilderness is located.