North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness
The North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness consists of the broad western end of Sandy Valley and the northern portion of Mesquite Mountains. Rolling brown foothills, a few steeper mountains, and medium sized buttes comprise the reddish-brown geologic features in the Wilderness. Vegetation of this area is characteristic of the mid-elevations of the eastern Mojave Desert. Dominant vegetation includes creosote brush scrub, blackbush, Joshua tree woodland, yucca, cacti, and some grasses. Wildlife is also typical for the Mojave Desert; including coyote, black-tailed jackrabbits, ground squirrels, kangaroo rats, quail, roadrunners, rattlesnakes and several species of lizards.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 28,955 acres |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 35.71° N, 115.74° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 28) |
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
32 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
- 13.9 miGoodsprings Schoolhouse ↗Goodsprings, NV
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 North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness?
28,955 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 35.714° N, 115.740° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Lovell Rx at 32 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Goodsprings Schoolhouse.
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.