Bristol Mountains Wilderness
The Bristol Mountains Wilderness contains the tilted and bisected old volcanic plain called Old Dad Mountains and the northern portion of the Bristol Mountains which climb as high as 3,874 feet. The broad Budweiser Wash drains into the eastern portion of the Wilderness. The vegetation type is predominantly creosote bush desert scrub and desert wash scrub. Wildlife is typical for the Mojave Desert; including coyote, black-tailed jackrabbits, ground squirrels, kangaroo rats, quail, roadrunners, rattlesnakes, and several species of lizards. The Bristol Mountains also provide habitat for migrating desert bighorn sheep.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 71,389 acres |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.77° N, 115.93° 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
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 Bristol Mountains Wilderness?
71,389 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Bristol Mountains Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Bristol Mountains Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Bristol Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Bristol Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.769° N, 115.931° W. Mojave National Preserve is 28 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Bristol Mountains Wilderness?
Mojave National Preserve (28 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
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.