Mesquite Wilderness
The Mesquite Wilderness consists of portions of the Mesquite Mountains, Mesquite Valley, and the Clark Mountain Range. The Mesquite Mountains have more gradual rising slopes than the rough and rocky Clark Mountain Range. Numerous small caves are found in the porous rock of the Clark Mountains. Dominant vegetation ranges from the creosote brush sage association on the bajadas to blackbrush, Joshua trees, and pinyon-juniper at the higher elevations. Barrel cactus gardens are also found in some locations.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 44,804 acres |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 35.65° N, 115.63° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 27) |
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
- PrescribedLovell Rx
36 mi from the center point · 54 acres
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.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 12.5 miGoodsprings Schoolhouse ↗Goodsprings, NV
- 13.5 miMurphy Well Corral ↗Nipton, 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 Mesquite Wilderness?
44,804 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Mesquite Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Mesquite Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Mesquite Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Mesquite Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 35.646° N, 115.632° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Mesquite Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Lovell Rx at 36 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Mesquite Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Goodsprings Schoolhouse and Murphy Well Corral.
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.