The Riordan's Well WSA is located in the Grant Range in east-central Nevada in Nye County approximately 50 miles southwest of Ely, Nevada. The WSA is located within both the Ely and Battle Mountain BLM Districts. The entire WSA is comprised of public lands with no private or State inholdings.
Most of the Riordan's Well WSA is in a highly natural condition. The central portion of the range is extremely rugged with elevations ranging from below 5,000 feet to 9,352 feet on Heath Peak. Remote basins within the unit are enhanced by
pristine riparian settings
and isolated stands of old growth pinyon pine and mahogany. The mountainous
portions are a maze of peaks, outcrops, and drainages which support a variety of
conifer and wildlife species, each adapted to their particular niche. The
roadless nature of the interior of the unit has preserved the rugged naturalness
in this portion of the Grant Range. Around Heath Peak, white limestone cliffs
provide colorful contrast with the dark green forest canopy. These cliffs, risen
from an ancient sea, have left a legacy of unexplored caves and 
arches for the wilderness
visitor. The huge scale of the terrain is nowhere more obvious than on the north
face of Heath Peak, where a giant rock slide has effaced the forest cover from
peak to base. East of Heath Peak, a cirque-like bowl nestled among the mountain
peaks is another attraction for the visitor. To the northeast, an area of red
and yellow sandstone hills provides a pleasing contrast to the limestone crags
surrounding the higher peaks.Solitude is a guaranteed quality in the mountainous part of the WSA, and opportunities for enjoying it are outstanding. The mountains are not a single
ridgeline; instead, they
occur as a number of interconnected but distinguishably separate peaks over an
area that has both breadth and length. Undulating mountain slopes are blanketed
by nearly solid pinyon and juniper forests, here and there briefly interrupted
by the bright green of manzanita thickets. At the higher elevations white fir,
limber pine, and ponderosa pines are found. The dense tree cover over most of
the mountain mass enhances screening to the extent that a secluded place can be
found almost anywhere.