Wilderness area

Desatoya Mountains Wilderness

Desatoya Mountains Wilderness is a 40,303-acre wilderness area in Lander County, Nevada. It rises from about 5,771 to 9,964 ft. The nearest town is Gabbs, 27.2 miles away in a straight line.

Desatoya Mountains Wilderness map

Desatoya Mountains Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.

View larger map Open in Google Maps Directions

Fire restrictions

3 fire restriction orders are recorded for this unit as of Sept. 30, 2026. Each links the signed order.

  • Bureau of Land Management Carson City District fire restrictions order Applies to this wilderness, managed by the Stillwater Field Office in the Carson City District. Listed under Western Nevada (Sierra Front Zone) on Nevada Fire Info. The signed order states the exact area, what it prohibits, and exemptions.
  • BLM Nevada Carson City District - Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Rescinded Applies to this wilderness, managed by the Stillwater Field Office in the Carson City District. Stage 2 rescinded. Listed under Western Nevada (Sierra Front Zone) on Nevada Fire Info. The signed notice states what was lifted and what stays in effect.
  • BLM Nevada Prevention Order: BLM statewide restrictions Effective May 1, 2026. Applies to all BLM and Forest Service land in Nevada. Prohibited: Possessing, discharging, using or allowing the use of fireworks, pyrotechnic or incendiary devices; possessing, discharging, igniting or causing to burn; explosives or explosive material, including binary explosive targets; discharging a firearm using tracer, incendiary, or steel-component ammunition. [Use of tracer or incendiary ammunition is always prohibited on public lands]; operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order.

Common questions

Gabbs, NV is the nearest town, 27.2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
The highest ground in Desatoya Mountains Wilderness is about 9,964 ft, and its lowest about 5,771 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Desatoya North Twin, about 9,964 ft.

Who manages Desatoya Mountains Wilderness

Agency Acres Permit Group size Stay limit Office
BLM 40,303 Not on record Not on record Not on record Stillwater Field Office in the Carson City District, 775-885-6000

Getting to Desatoya Mountains Wilderness

  • Gabbs, NV is the nearest town, 27.2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-25)

Named summits, canyons, and springs in Desatoya Mountains Wilderness

  • Desatoya North Twin summit about 9,964 ft
  • Desatoya Peak summit about 9,963 ft
  • Bald Mountain summit about 8,964 ft
  • Big Den Spring spring
  • Cedar Springs Number One spring

Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-25. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.

Other wilderness areas in Nevada

Nevada wilderness areas