The Marble Canyon WSA is located approximately 30 air miles northeast of Ely near the Utah border north of Mt. Moriah in White Pine County. The entire WSA is comprised of public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management with no private inholdings.
The majority of the WSA is in an extremely natural condition. Much of the area is rugged and has impeded most development attempts. The rugged topographic features of the Marble Canyon WSA insure outstanding opportunities for solitude.
The northern and central
region of the WSA is characterized by sparsely forested plateaus and divides cut
by massive canyons. The impressive Bars Canyon, slices through the unit and its
limestone and marble walls drop nearly 800 feet to the canyon's floor. Major
side canyons equally as deep branch off and wander for additional miles. Each
turn of these tortuous canyons isolate the visitor further and further. The
cliffs are pocketed with shelter
caves, expansive ledges, and
huge natural amphitheaters. Other major canyons, including Marble and Coyote
Canyons, have similar topographic isolation. Vegetative screening varies
throughout the WSA. Pockets of white fir, Douglas fir, bristlecone pine, limber
pine, and mountain mahogany are found at higher elevations on most of the ridges
within the WSA.