Nelson Mountain Wilderness
Nelson Mountain Wilderness is a 7,179-acre wilderness area in Emery County, Utah. It rises from about 6,384 to 9,069 ft. The nearest town is Emery, 3.6 miles away in a straight line.
Nelson Mountain Wilderness map
Nelson Mountain Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
5 fire restriction orders are recorded for this unit as of Sept. 30, 2026. Each links the signed order.
- Forest Service (USFS) - Manti-La Sal NF, Ferron RD (Black Canyon Rd) (Closure) Effective Sept. 11, 2026. Applies to the part of this wilderness managed by Ferron Ranger District. Listed as Active on Utah Fire Info. The signed order states the exact area, what it prohibits, and exemptions.
- Forest Service (USFS) - Babylon Fire Closure - Manti-La Sal NF (Monticello RD) Effective July 17, 2026. Applies to the part of this wilderness managed by Ferron Ranger District. Listed as Active on Utah Fire Info. The signed order states the exact area, what it prohibits, and exemptions.
- Forest Service (USFS) - Cottonwood Fire Closure Effective July 4, 2026. Applies to the part of this wilderness managed by Ferron Ranger District. Listed as Active on Utah Fire Info. The signed order states the exact area, what it prohibits, and exemptions.
- Forest Service (USFS) - Wild Goose Fire Closure Effective June 27, 2026. Applies to the part of this wilderness managed by Ferron Ranger District. Listed as Active on Utah Fire Info. The signed order states the exact area, what it prohibits, and exemptions.
- Forest Service (USFS) - Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF (Ogden RD: Weber Co Wasatch Foothills) (Special Order) Effective June 1, 2026. Applies to the part of this wilderness managed by Ferron Ranger District. 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
- Emery, UT is the nearest town, 3.6 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Nelson Mountain Wilderness is about 9,069 ft, and its lowest about 6,384 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Nelson Mountain, about 9,069 ft.
Who manages Nelson Mountain Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 7,179 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Ferron Ranger District, 435-384-2372 |
Getting to Nelson Mountain Wilderness
- Emery, UT is the nearest town, 3.6 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
Trailheads at Nelson Mountain Wilderness
- The Hole Trailhead (0.07 mi outside the boundary, 6,425 ft), at 38.9804, -111.2447
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-29. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Nelson Mountain Wilderness
- Nelson Mountain summit
- Youngs Peak summit
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 Nelson Mountain Wilderness
- National forestNelson Mountain Wilderness lies inside Manti-La Sal National Forest.
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=804 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n39w112/USGS_1_n39w112.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n40w112/USGS_1_n40w112.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://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_InfraRecreationSites_01/MapServer/0 (accessed 2026-09-29)