Carrizo Gorge Wilderness
Some of the most expansive views in the entire California Desert--vistas often extending for more than 100 miles--exist in Carrizo Gorge Wilderness. From overlooks, you can see the Chocolate Mountains...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 14,740 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 32.7727, -116.2451 |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 28) |
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. 7 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 6.4 miDesert View Tower ↗Ocotillo, CA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Carrizo Gorge Wilderness?
14,740 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Carrizo Gorge Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Carrizo Gorge Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Carrizo Gorge Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Carrizo Gorge Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Cottonwood Campground, 2.3 miles out. 7 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 Carrizo Gorge Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 32.773, -116.245. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How dark is the night sky at Carrizo Gorge Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 28 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 Carrizo Gorge Wilderness?
1 National Register listing within 15 miles, including Desert View Tower.
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.