Bighorn Mountain Wilderness
The north-central portion of this Wilderness area holds the rugged Bighorn Mountains and the eastern foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. The Bighorns lift all the way to 7,500 feet on Granite Peak. It presents a rare transition zone between the yucca- and Joshua tree-covered desert floor and stands of Jeffrey pine in the higher country. Mule deer, mountain lions, and bobcats make their homes here, and golden eagles soar in the bright skies. Numerous resident and migratory birds are in abundance here. The intermittent creekbed through Rattlesnake Canyon travels northward and divides the Wilderness into distinct eastern and western sections. A third section lies to the southeast of the two larger sections.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 38,599 acres |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.29° N, 116.65° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 27) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
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
None of the 18 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Show 4 moreHide
6 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Fire nearby
- WildfireGreen
25 mi from the center point · 55 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 14.8 miWashington, Henry, Survey Marker ↗Big Bear City, CA
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 Bighorn Mountain Wilderness?
38,599 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Bighorn Mountain Wilderness?
Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service share management. The Bureau of Land Management portion is the largest in the wilderness record.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Bighorn Mountain Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Bighorn Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Bighorn Mountain Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Bighorn Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.288° N, 116.647° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Bighorn Mountain Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Green at 25 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Bighorn Mountain Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Washington, Henry, Survey Marker.
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.