Pinto Mountains Wilderness
The Pinto Mountains Wilderness is located on Bureau of Land Management lands on the Joshua Tree National Park's northern boundary. The rugged Pinto Mountains rise sharply up from the northern edge of the Pinto Basin, a gigantic alluvial plain in the park. Roughly half of the Pinto range is inside the park and is managed as the Joshua Tree Wilderness. The Pinto Mountains Wilderness hosts a variety of rare and fascinating species, including American badger, Bendire's thrasher, California leaf-nosed bat, desert tortoise, Nelson's bighorn sheep and pallid bat. The Fish and Wildlife Service has identified the area as "Critical Habitat" for the future survival of the desert tortoise.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 24,348 acres |
| Designated | 2009, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.01° N, 115.85° 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 2 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 8.3 miChemehuevi Cemetery ↗Twentynine Palms, 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 Pinto Mountains Wilderness?
24,348 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Pinto Mountains Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Pinto Mountains Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Pinto Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2009.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Pinto 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 Pinto Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.008° N, 115.845° W. Joshua Tree National Park is 4 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Pinto Mountains Wilderness?
Joshua Tree National Park (4 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Pinto Mountains Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Chemehuevi Cemetery.
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.