Fish Creek Mountains Wilderness
From the desert floor, the Fish Creek Mountains appear as a plateau rising like a great wall, with only a few dramatic peaks visible from a distance. In reality, the mountains are a rugged landscape of jagged ridges and peaks that rise above twisting canyons and secluded valleys—a pristine desert mountainland ideal for a Wilderness adventure. The steep slopes often feature limestone outcroppings that have resisted erosion. As a result, rainstorms have carved narrow chutes that swirl with runoff. At the base of these chutes, where sunlight is limited and evaporation reduced, pools form and provide vital water sources for wildlife.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 21,390 acres |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 32.97° N, 116.01° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 33) |
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.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedOak Woodlands Wcsl Rx
36 mi from the center point
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
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Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Fish Creek Mountains Wilderness?
21,390 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Fish Creek Mountains Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Fish Creek Mountains Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Fish Creek Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Fish Creek Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 32.973° N, 116.012° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Fish Creek Mountains Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Oak Woodlands Wcsl Rx at 36 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
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.