Desolation Canyon Wilderness
Desolation Canyon Wilderness is a 142,996-acre wilderness area in Emery County, Utah. It rises from about 4,107 to 9,316 ft. The nearest town is Green River, 5 miles away in a straight line.
Desolation Canyon Wilderness map
Desolation Canyon 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
- Green River, UT is the nearest town, 5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Desolation Canyon Wilderness is about 9,316 ft, and its lowest about 4,107 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Mount Elliott, about 7,135 ft.
Who manages Desolation Canyon Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLM | 142,996 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record |
Getting to Desolation Canyon Wilderness
- Green River, UT is the nearest town, 5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
Trailheads at Desolation Canyon Wilderness
- Range Creek (inside the boundary, 4,435 ft), at 39.2973, -110.0859
Trailhead locations: BLM recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-29. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Desolation Canyon Wilderness
- Mount Elliott summit
- Elliott Mesa summit
- Middle Mountain summit
- Big Canyon canyon
- Bull Canyon canyon
- Joe Spring spring
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 Desolation Canyon Wilderness
- Wilderness areaDesolation Canyon Wilderness borders Turtle Canyon Wilderness.
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=789 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n40w111/USGS_1_n40w111.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)