Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness
The Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness is a landscape of striking contrasts, where dry lakebeds rest quietly near the center of an area shaped by both rugged mountains and wide desert slopes. To the east, the terrain rises into the jagged Bullion Mountains, while the west unfolds into a broad bajada—a gently sloping desert plain. Elevations span from over 4,100 feet in the mountains to just 1,400 feet on the valley floor, offering sweeping views and dramatic variation in habitat. This diverse terrain supports equally varied wildlife. Bighorn sheep navigate the rocky highlands, while desert tortoises inhabit the sandy lowlands.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 39,167 acres |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.25° N, 115.81° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 30) |
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
- 10.4 miChemehuevi Cemetery ↗Twentynine Palms, 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 Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness?
39,167 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Cleghorn Lakes 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 Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.254° N, 115.811° W. Joshua Tree National Park is 20 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness?
Joshua Tree National Park (20 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Chemehuevi Cemetery.
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.