Big Maria Mountains Wilderness
Gently sloping bajadas, or desert slopes, rise to numerous rough and craggy peaks separated by steep canyons in Big Maria Mountains Wilderness. The Big Marias lie just south of a major drainage called Big Wash and just west of the Colorado River and the Arizona border. The northwest boundary follows a power line south, then turns southeast to trace the contours of the base of the mountains. Foxtail cactus and California barrel cactus dot the dry and desolate landscape, and a small herd of deer depend on the waters of the river for survival. There are no trails, but several unmaintained two-track primitive routes provide foot access into the Wilderness.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 45,384 acres |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.83° N, 114.62° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 29) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 10.9 miClassroom Building, Poston Elementary School, Unit 1 ↗National Historic Landmark
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Big Maria Mountains Wilderness?
45,384 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Big Maria Mountains Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Big Maria Mountains Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Big Maria Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Big Maria Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.832° N, 114.616° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Big Maria Mountains Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Classroom Building, Poston Elementary School, Unit 1.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.