Calico Mountains Wilderness Area

Calico Mountains Wilderness Area spans nearly 65,000 acres of remote, primitive backcountry in northern Nevada. The landscape is rugged and untracked—a true non-motorized wilderness where foot travel and self-reliance define the experience. Here you'll find solitude and the kind of open terrain that rewards explorers willing to navigate without maintained trails.

Hiking and backpacking are the primary ways to experience this area. There are no roads, no motors, and no mechanized travel of any kind permitted. This means you'll travel on foot, camp in dispersed sites, and encounter minimal human infrastructure. It's a place for those seeking genuine wilderness immersion, not convenience.

Visitors must follow Leave No Trace principles strictly. Pack out everything you pack in, camp away from water sources, and treat the landscape as the protected resource it is. Access is limited and unmarked; detailed maps and navigation skills are essential. Spring and fall can offer pleasant conditions, though weather in the high desert can be unpredictable. Winter access is challenging. This is a destination for experienced backcountry travelers comfortable with self-sufficiency and route-finding.