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Rainbow Mountain Wilderness

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Introduction

The United States Congress designated the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness (map) in 2002 and it now has a total of 25,113 acres. All of this wilderness is located in Nevada and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service. The Rainbow Mountain Wilderness is bordered by the La Madre Mountain Wilderness to the north.

Description

The Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Area is located approximately 12 miles west of Las Vegas, Nevada. This wilderness area is jointly managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the US Forest Service.

The terrain consists of beautiful vertical red and buff sandstone cliffs, capped by limestone in some areas, that are deeply incised by narrow, twisting and heavily vegetated canyons. The area contains one perennial stream. Elevations range from 4,400 feet in the canyon bottoms to 7,000 feet at the top of the escarpment.

The habitat includes rocky outcrops with pockets of ponderosa pine, pinion pine and juniper. The canyon bottoms support willow, ash and hackberry species. This range in habitat and the area's unique geology and microclimates support several endemic plant communities, plants that are found no where else in the world.

High concentrations of rock art, including both petroglyphs and pictographs, add to the uniqueness of this wilderness area.

Planning to Visit the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness?

Leave No Trace

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply in the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness.
  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
  3. Dispose of Waste Properly
  4. Leave What You Find
  5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
  6. Respect Wildlife
  7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.