BLM · California

Darwin Falls Wilderness

In the northern part of this Wilderness, the Darwin Plateau rises in a series of shallow depressions and canyons, featuring dramatic volcanic rock formations that define the rugged landscape. To the south, Darwin Falls cascades through the scenic Darwin Canyon, a striking contrast to the arid surroundings. Lined with willows and cottonwoods, the falls are fed by a permanent spring just beyond the northeast Wilderness boundary within Death Valley National Park. Much of the terrain is dominated by creosote bush, with Joshua tree woodlands appearing at higher elevations. The diverse habitat supports desert wildlife, including frequent sightings of prairie falcons.

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Darwin Falls Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byBureau of Land Management
StateCalifornia
Size8,189 acres
Designated1994, by Congress
Center point36.33° N, 117.58° W
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 27)

Boundary map

1 outline

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

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Darwin Falls Wilderness30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 1.24 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.48 inches of precipitationMarch: 0.79 inches of precipitationApril: 0.22 inches of precipitationMay: 0.21 inches of precipitationJune: 0.06 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.23 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.13 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.21 inches of precipitationOctober: 0.28 inches of precipitationNovember: 0.33 inches of precipitationDecember: 0.99 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 39.1°F averageFebruary: 42.1°F averageMarch: 48.2°F averageApril: 54.1°F averageMay: 62.4°F averageJune: 72.3°F averageJuly: 77.9°F averageAugust: 76.7°F averageSeptember: 70.4°F averageOctober: 58.7°F averageNovember: 46.5°F averageDecember: 38.4°F average0 in0.5 in1 in1.5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Haiwee, 25 miles from the center point at 3,825 feet, station USC00043710 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 6 inches a year.

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

Campsite Atlas →

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

National Park System units within 30 miles · Park Atlas

Guidebooks for California

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Walkabout Northern California
    Tom Courtney, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Backpacking California
    Wilderness Press, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Coastal trails of Southern California
    Linda B. Mullally, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking northern California
    Bubba Suess, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California
    Shawnte Salabert, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Darwin Falls Wilderness?

8,189 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Darwin Falls Wilderness?

The Bureau of Land Management.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Darwin Falls Wilderness in?

California.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Darwin Falls Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1994.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How do I get to Darwin Falls Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 36.327° N, 117.575° W. Death Valley National Park is 25 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Which national parks are near Darwin Falls Wilderness?

Death Valley National Park (25 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.