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...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 20,548 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 35.1183, -117.2038 |
| 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.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 1 is within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- WildfireAlper
32 mi from the center point · 105 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
- 13.8 miHarvey House Railroad Depot ↗Barstow, CA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
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?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Rainbow Basin/Owl Canyon Campground, 8 miles out. 1 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Black Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 35.118, -117.204. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Black Mountain Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Alper at 32 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Black Mountain Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 29 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Black Mountain Wilderness?
1 National Register 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.