Wild River Wilderness
Wild River Wilderness is a 24,032-acre wilderness area in Coos County, New Hampshire. It rises from about 1,085 to 4,751 ft. The nearest town is Gorham, 4.9 miles away in a straight line.
Wild River Wilderness map
Wild River 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
- The maximum group size at Wild River Wilderness is 10.
- Campfires are prohibited in some areas: Prohibited within 200 feet of listed features; Prohibited within 1/4 mile of listed features.
- Gorham, NH is the nearest town, 4.9 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Wild River Wilderness is about 4,751 ft, and its lowest about 1,085 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is North Baldface, about 3,587 ft.
Who manages Wild River Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 24,032 | Not on record | 10 | Not on record | Androscoggin Ranger District, 603-466-2713 |
Getting to Wild River Wilderness
- Gorham, NH is the nearest town, 4.9 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Wild River Wilderness
- Wild River/Basin Trailhead (0.1 mi outside the boundary, 1,145 ft), at 44.3060, -71.0645
- Shelburne South (0.18 mi outside the boundary, 1,080 ft), at 44.3159, -71.0584
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Wild River Wilderness
- North Baldface summit
- Mount Meader summit
- Ragged Jacket summit
- No Ketchum Pond lake
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-30. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.
Public lands next to Wild River Wilderness
- National forestWild River Wilderness lies inside White Mountain National Forest.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in New Hampshire
- wilderness.net (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- www2.census.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- apps.fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)