Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness
In the heart of the relatively jagged Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness, twin buttes called the Flat Tops stand out prominently. The highest point in the area, Palo Verde Peak, rises to about 1,800 feet in the southern portion. Thumb Peak, with its distinctive shape, stands to the north. A unique palm oasis, Clapp Spring, stands not far east of Thumb Peak and is worth a visit. It's the only permanent water source in the area for wildlife species, such as desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, and wild burros. Unlike most desert oases that hide in the shade of deep canyon walls, Clapp Spring bubbles up in the middle of an open landscape.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 39,955 acres |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.35° N, 114.84° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 28) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
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
None of the 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
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Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness?
39,955 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.353° N, 114.838° 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.