Location

The Worthington Mountains Wilderness is located in a remote part of the Ely District within Lincoln County in east-central Nevada. The nearest paved highway is about 15 miles to the south, and the nearest incorporated town is Alamo, 38 miles southeast.

Getting There

Access to this Wilderness area from Hiko, Nevada is achieved via state highway 375 northwest towards Rachel. Approximately 1.5 miles before Rachel take a right on an unnamed county road for 18 miles northbound.

Area Description

Worthington Mountain rises like a ship 4,000 rugged feet above dry valleys of central Nevada to almost 9,000 feet. The extremely severe limestone backbone of the mountain presents a difficult challenge to visitors with heavily dissected, maze-like canyons, precipitous cliffs, knifelike limestone surfaces, and no surface water. Those who persist will be rewarded by endless vistas, natural arches, 2,000 acres of ancient forest, (the oldest tree dated at 2,100 years), and limestone caves, the largest being Leviathan.

The immense scenery of the area, natural arches, caves, and vistas from the ridgeline of Worthington steep-walled rock canyons that drop away from the top of the ridgeline provide an amazing backdrop for nature study, technical rock climbing, rock scrambling, hiking, backpacking, and camping. The spelunking opportunities in Leviathan Cave are extraordinary with its huge entrance (100x180), cave formations, enormous chambers, narrow constricted passageways, and large ice formations during winter and spring months.

Wildlife species inhabiting this wilderness area include mountain lions, bobcats, deer, desert bighorn sheep, kit foxes, coyotes and raptors, as well as smaller common mammal and reptile species. Forest cover in the mountains vary from sparse to dense stands of juniper and pinyon pine at lower elevations while ponderosa, limber and bristlecone pines cling to the jagged peaks. The Worthington Mountains feature a divergent flora from the curious combination Great Basin/Sonoran desert including cholla and cactus of the valley through pinyon - juniper, Limber and Ponderosa Pine, to the Bristlecone Pine of the craggy 9,000 foot summit ridge. No other Nevada area expresses the wilderness characteristics of stark beauty, chaotic topography, and remoteness quite as well as Worthington Mountains.

Additional Information

Signs indicating "Wilderness" and "Closed Road" or "Closed Route" are placed at various intervals. Vehicles can be parked outside the wilderness boundary; however, the boundary is set back 100 feet on roads.

Mechanized and motorized vehicles are NOT PERMITTED in a wilderness area.

Hunting, fishing, and non-commercial trapping are allowed under state and local laws. Pets are allowed, but please keep your pets under control at all times. Horses are permitted, however you may need to carry feed. Removal, disturbance, or attempting to remove archaeological materials is a felony. Selling, receiving, purchasing, transporting, exchanging or offering to do so is prohibited by law.

Camping is permitted, limited to 14 days. After 14 days campers must relocate at least 25 miles from previous site (interim policy, until wilderness planning is complete). Gathering wood for campfires, when permitted, is limited to dead and down material. Live vegetation cannot be cut.

Please help preserve Nevada's fragile environments, park your vehicle or set up camp in previously used sites, minimize impacts by practicing Leave No Trace ethics.

Contact Ely Bureau of Land Management Field Office for current weather, road conditions, and hazards.

Contact Info:

Ely BLM Field Office
Phone: 775-289-1800
http://www.nv.blm.gov/ely