Chemehuevi Mountains Wilderness
The Chemehuevi Mountains Wilderness offers a dramatic desert landscape defined by rugged granite peaks and sweeping views. Shaped like a horseshoe that opens east toward the Colorado River, the range surrounds a central valley of rolling hills covered in cholla, ocotillo, and occasional agave. From the west, pale granite peaks rise sharply above green creosote and cactus-filled bajadas, creating a vivid contrast. Closer to the river, the terrain shifts to red and gray volcanic spires and mesas, adding to the area's striking variety. Red Rock and Trampas Washes cross the Wilderness from west to east, their broad, sandy paths lined with trees. Springs and seeps dot the landscape, supporting bursts of life in the arid surroundings.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 85,864 acres |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.60° N, 114.54° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 28) |
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
- 0.7 miOld Trails Bridge ↗Topock, AZ
- 9.9 miEl Garces ↗Needles, 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 Chemehuevi Mountains Wilderness?
85,864 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Chemehuevi Mountains Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Chemehuevi Mountains Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Chemehuevi Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Chemehuevi Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.596° N, 114.537° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Chemehuevi Mountains Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Old Trails Bridge and El Garces.
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.