Before European settlement in the mid-19th century, there is evidence this area was used by the Washoe. After, it was known at times as Devil's Valley, and most often used for cattle grazing. By the end of that century, the first formal step to limiting its development when it was made a Forest Reserve, managed first by the General Land Office, and later, by the US Forest Service. It was set aside as the Desolation Valley Primitive Area in 1931 with an area of . In 1969, it became the Desolation Wilderness after the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964.