Great Falls Basin Wilderness
A perennial spring supplies the water flowing through a short distance in the Great Falls Basin Wilderness, and that reach has cut a narrow and deep slot in the bedrock forming several falls. Vegetation is mixed desert scrub, with the dominant plant being creosote. In the higher elevations, the vegetation changes to heavier upland scrub with yucca, mountain mahogany, and some pinyon and juniper trees. The Inyo brown towhee, a state-listed rare bird species, frequents the basin, as do desert bighorn sheep. Elevations range from 2,000-4,500 feet. The steep mountainous terrain includes granite outcrops which provide opportunities for cross country hiking and exploration.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 7,810 acres |
| Designated | 2019, by Congress |
| Center point | 35.85° N, 117.40° 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.
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Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Great Falls Basin Wilderness?
7,810 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Great Falls Basin Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Great Falls Basin Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Great Falls Basin Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2019.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Great Falls Basin Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 35.854° N, 117.396° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
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.