Black Mountain Wilderness
Black Mountain stands at 3,941 feet, a mesa rising above an expanse of desolate, ancient lava flows. The mountain lies in the northwest corner of the Wilderness, and from the summit, the area drops in elevation to 2,080 feet. Golden eagles and prairie falcons have been seen foraging in this area, which is also known for its occasional display of spring flowers. There are no trails, but a spring exists near Opal Mountain. If you travel to the southeast corner of the Wilderness you will find a deposit of fine-grained sand. A significant amount of privately owned acreage exists within the area that should not be used without permission.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 20,548 acres |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 35.12° N, 117.20° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 29) |
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 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 13.8 miHarvey House Railroad Depot ↗Barstow, CA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Black Mountain Wilderness?
20,548 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Black Mountain Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Black Mountain Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Black Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Black 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 Black Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 35.118° N, 117.204° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Black Mountain Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Harvey House Railroad Depot.
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.