Surprise Canyon Wilderness
Surprise Canyon Wilderness is a 24,433-acre wilderness area in Inyo County, California. It rises from about 1,044 to 7,752 ft. The nearest town is Valley Wells, 14.1 miles away in a straight line.
Surprise Canyon Wilderness map
Surprise Canyon Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
Common questions
- Valley Wells, CA is the nearest town, 14.1 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Surprise Canyon Wilderness is about 7,752 ft, and its lowest about 1,044 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model).
Who manages Surprise Canyon Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLM | 24,433 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record |
Getting to Surprise Canyon Wilderness
- Valley Wells, CA is the nearest town, 14.1 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Surprise Canyon Wilderness
- Surprise Canyon canyon
- Happy Canyon canyon
- Limekiln Spring spring
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-29.
Public lands next to Surprise Canyon Wilderness
- National Park Service unitSurprise Canyon Wilderness borders Death Valley National Park.
- Wilderness areaSurprise Canyon Wilderness borders Death Valley Wilderness.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in California
- https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=584 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n37w118/USGS_1_n37w118.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/GeographicNames/DomesticNames/DomesticNames_CA_Text.zip (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2025_Gazetteer/2025_gaz_place_06.txt (accessed 2026-09-29)