Cold Wash Wilderness
Cold Wash Wilderness is an 11,001-acre wilderness area in Emery County, Utah. It rises from about 5,784 to 7,354 ft. The nearest town is Ferron, 15.1 miles away in a straight line.
Cold Wash Wilderness map
Cold Wash Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
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 (BLM) - West Desert District (Stage 1) Effective Sept. 5, 2026. Applies to land covered by this Utah Fire Info order. Stage 1. Listed as Active on Utah Fire Info. The signed order states the exact area, what it prohibits, and exemptions.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Cottonwood Fire Closure Effective June 26, 2026. Applies to all BLM land in Utah. Listed as Active on Utah Fire Info. The signed order states the exact area, what it prohibits, and exemptions.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Statewide (Prevention Order) Effective June 17, 2025. Applies to all BLM land in Utah. Listed as Active on Utah Fire Info. The signed order states the exact area, what it prohibits, and exemptions.
Utah Fire Info, Utah DNR's interagency fire information hub, keeps the Utah fire restrictions map and signed orders for every fire zone, and a Utah fire map of active fires.
Common questions
- Ferron, UT is the nearest town, 15.1 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Cold Wash Wilderness is about 7,354 ft, and its lowest about 5,784 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is The Blocks, about 6,854 ft.
Who manages Cold Wash Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLM | 11,001 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record |
Getting to Cold Wash Wilderness
- Ferron, UT is the nearest town, 15.1 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
Trailheads at Cold Wash Wilderness
- Eva Conover Trailhead (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 6,922 ft), at 38.8664, -110.8503
- North and South Forks (junction) of Coal Wash (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 5,783 ft), at 38.9835, -110.8886
- ZCMI Mine Access (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 5,941 ft), at 38.9534, -110.8475
Trailhead locations: BLM recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-29. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Cold Wash Wilderness
- The Blocks summit
- Golden Gate summit
- Cow Canyon canyon
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-29. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.
Public lands next to Cold Wash Wilderness
- Wilderness areaCold Wash Wilderness borders Eagle Canyon Wilderness.
- Wilderness areaCold Wash Wilderness borders Sid's Mountain Wilderness.
- Wilderness areaDevil's Canyon Wilderness is 3 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in Utah
- https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=788 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n39w111/USGS_1_n39w111.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/GeographicNames/DomesticNames/DomesticNames_UT_Text.zip (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2025_Gazetteer/2025_gaz_place_49.txt (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://gis.blm.gov/arcgis/rest/services/recreation/BLM_Natl_Recs_pts/MapServer/14 (accessed 2026-09-29)