It is operated jointly by the United States Forest Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the San Isabel National Forest and the Leadville National Fish Hatchery.

The name comes from Mount Massive, the second highest peak in Colorado, located inside the wilderness.

It is the only federally designated wilderness area within the National Fish Hatchery System.

[2][3] On the west side, the Continental Divide separates the Mount Massive Wilderness from the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness, part of the White River National Forest.

This article related to a protected area in Colorado is a stub.