Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness Study Area

This 500,000-acre wilderness study area protects some of Idaho’s most remote and pristine desert landscape, featuring deep river canyons, towering rock formations, and expansive sagebrush plateaus. The Owyhee, Bruneau, and Jarbidge rivers have carved dramatic gorges through layers of volcanic rock, creating a maze of side canyons and hidden valleys. Wildlife includes bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and over 200 bird species.

Access requires high-clearance vehicles and careful route planning — roads are primitive dirt tracks that become impassable when wet. No facilities exist within the WSA, and cell service is nonexistent. Spring and fall offer the best weather, while summer heat can be extreme and winter snow blocks higher elevations.

Idaho's remote desert wilderness for serious adventurers