Visit Wilderness

Search for a wilderness as the destination for your next outdoor adventure.

Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, Minnesota

Why Visit Wilderness?

Although you can certainly appreciate wilderness from afar—online, on television, or in books—first-hand experiences in nature such as campng or hunting enable you to enjoy the recreational, ecological, spiritual, and health benefits that wilderness areas provide. Wilderness areas provide “outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation,” opportunities to see wildlife, a chance to renew and refresh, and the health benefits of exercising outside. You can even bring your well-behaved dog to many wilderness areas.

Learn more about the diverse ways in which we benefit from wilderness and threats wilderness areas face today.

The South Egan Range Wilderness is a striking and rugged mountain spine running nearly the entire length of the White River Valley. Spectacular vistas give a sense of exhilaration as the landscape falls away dramatically to the valley floor, 4,000 feet below. Numerous riparian areas and pockets of quaking aspen serve to attract an abundant variety of wildlife species which include mule deer, elk, and a variety of upland game birds, such as sage grouse.

There are three routes (cherrystems) that provide access to the ridgeline toward the center of the Wilderness area. The West Parker Spring route (not suitable for full-sized vehicles) leads to the ridge and provides views of Mt. Wheeler to the east and over a number of mountain ranges to the west. Several springs feed small, intermittent creeks throughout 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 South Egan Range 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 South Egan Range Wilderness is located in the Egan Range in White Pine, Lincoln and Nye Counties approximately two miles west of Lund, Nevada. Access to the South Egan Range Wilderness Area from Ely is via Federal Highway 6 southbound approximately 20 miles to State Highway 318. State Route 318 parallels the western boundary of the wilderness area. There are a number of dirt roads that lead to the boundary off State Highway 318.

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 South Egan Range 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 109-432

Date: December 20, 2006
Acreage: 67,214 acres

Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 - Public law 109-432 (12/20/2006) To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend expiring provisions, and for other purposes.

For more information (To download or see all affected Wilderness areas) visit our law library for 109-432 or special provisions for 109-432 or legislative history for 109-432.

General Trip Planning Information

Recreational opportunities include camping, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, and hunting. Solitude can be found in any of the many small drainages and washes that run down from the ridgeline. A variety of trees also provide excellent cover throughout the range. See area management for regulations.

Safety and Current Conditions

Much of the central portion of the wilderness burned in the 2012 Egan Fire. Roads have washed out and may be impassible.

Contact the Ely District Office for current 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.