Riverside Mountains Wilderness
With an eastern boundary that runs roughly parallel to the Colorado River, Riverside Mountains Wilderness varies from gently sloping bajadas to a rugged interior with numerous peaks and a craggy skyline. Canyons in the interior emerge from the mountains to open into washes that divide the bajadas. Big Wash crosses the western section and provides easy foot access. The northern section includes artifacts from several old mining operations. Foxtail cactuses and California barrel cactuses, both sensitive plants, dot the landscape. A small herd of burro deer call this Wilderness home.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 24,004 acres |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.01° N, 114.57° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 29) |
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.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 6 miClassroom Building, Poston Elementary School, Unit 1 ↗National Historic Landmark
- 14 miParker Jail ↗Parker, AZ
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 Riverside Mountains Wilderness?
24,004 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Riverside Mountains Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Riverside Mountains Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Riverside Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Riverside Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.005° N, 114.567° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Riverside Mountains Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Classroom Building, Poston Elementary School, Unit 1 and Parker Jail.
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.