Piper Mountain Wilderness
The Piper, Sylvania, and Inyo Mountains meet in Piper Mountain Wilderness. Alluvial fans cover large portions of the eastern side of the area. Wide, barren plains and dry hills form much of the landscape. The region is divided into three separate sections by non-Wilderness four-wheel-drive roads (along the seven miles of northeast-southwest Horse Thief Canyon, and north-south from Chocolate Mountain to the edge of Death Valley National Park). Sagebrush and piñon-juniper woodlands are the most common vegetation, though conifers grow in some of the higher elevations. At the base of the Inyo Mountains, you'll discover one of the northernmost stands of Joshua trees. Desert bighorn sheep live in at least three locations within this area.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 72,192 acres |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.32° N, 117.93° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 31) |
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.
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Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Piper Mountain Wilderness?
72,192 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Piper Mountain Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Piper Mountain Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Piper Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Piper Mountain 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 Piper Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.322° N, 117.926° 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.