Dead Mountains Wilderness
This Wilderness features the rugged, rust-colored Dead Mountains, with jagged peaks rising above sweeping alluvial fans that extend west toward Piute Valley and east to the Colorado River. Its highest point, Mount Manchester, reaches 3,598 feet and is located in the northern half of the area. Picture Canyon, a prominent wash and spring site, cuts through the northern region, while Piute Wash marks the western boundary. The landscape is dominated by creosote bush desert scrub and desert wash scrub. The washes also host the northernmost occurrence of smoketrees in the California Desert Conservation Area, adding a unique botanical feature.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 47,158 acres |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.99° N, 114.74° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 31) |
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
- 5.3 miEl Garces ↗Needles, CA
- 7.7 miHardyville Cemetery ↗Bullhead City, AZ
- 11.6 miPiute Dry Corral ↗Goffs, CA
- 14.6 miGoffs Schoolhouse ↗Goffs, 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 Dead Mountains Wilderness?
47,158 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Dead Mountains Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Dead Mountains Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Dead Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Dead Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.989° N, 114.738° W. Castle Mountains National Monument is 23 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Dead Mountains Wilderness?
Castle Mountains National Monument (23 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Dead Mountains Wilderness?
The National Register has 4 listings within 15 miles, including El Garces and Hardyville 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.