National Conservation Areas:

• Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails
     The Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area (NCA) is located approximately 100 miles northeast of Reno.  The NCA and ten associated Wilderness Areas total 1.2 million acres and include the largest wilderness unit administered by the BLM, the 315,000-acre Black Rock Desert Wilderness.
     The key NCA feature, the Black Rock Desert Playa, contains more than 160,000 acres of the bed of ancient Lake Lahontan.  That huge lake covered this area with 500 feet of water as recently as 14,000 years ago.
     The Black Rock Country provides expansive views, solitude, and a sense of primitive vastness little changed since Euro-Americans settled the West.

• Red Rock Canyon
     Red Rock Canyon NCA is located 10 miles west of Las Vegas, Nevada.  This 197,000 acre area provides a 13-mile scenic drive, more than 30 miles of hiking trails, picnic areas, and a visitor center with exhibit rooms and a bookstore.
     The unique geologic features, plants and animals of Red Rock Canyon represent some of the best examples of the Mojave Desert.
     Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is enjoyed by the local population as well as by visitors from the United States and many foreign countries.  More than one million visitors each year enjoy the spectacular desert landscape, climbing and hiking opportunities, and interpretive programs sponsored by the BLM.

• Sloan Canyon
     Sloan Canyon is located approximately 15 miles south of Las Vegas.  The NCA contains the northern portion of the McCullough Range, which is volcanic in origin. The peaks are rounded and have a steep eastern escarpment and a gradual western slope. Elevations span from 2,000 feet at the eastern base of the range to 5,092 feet at Black Mountain. The ridgeline offers excellent views of the Las Vegas valley, numerous ranges, and the Eldorado and Jean dry lakes. The area primarily supports a creosote bush community with barrel cactus, Joshua trees, cholla and prickly pear.

Wilderness in Nevada     

• Introduction

• Wilderness Areas

• Wilderness Study Areas