BLM · California

Sheephole Valley Wilderness

The Sheephole Valley Wilderness is a perfect representation of the basin and range topography typical in the Mojave Desert. The area consists of the northwest to southeast trending granitic boulder strewn Sheep Hole and Calumet Mountains. The Sheep Hole Mountains, the larger and steeper range, rises to an elevation of 4,613 feet, while the Calumets rise to 3,732 feet above sea level. Sheep Hole Valley nests between the two ranges. At the valley's lowest point, around 1,832 feet above sea level, there are two small dry lake beds. Sand dune formations can be found at the southwest end of the Sheep Hole range and northeastern portion of the Calumets.

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Sheephole Valley Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byBureau of Land Management
StateCalifornia
Size188,169 acres
Designated1994, by Congress
Center point34.23° N, 115.55° W
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 34)

Boundary map

1 outline

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

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Sheephole Valley Wilderness50°60°70°80°90°100°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 56.2°F averageFebruary: 59.8°F averageMarch: 66.2°F averageApril: 72.8°F averageMay: 81.9°F averageJune: 90.8°F averageJuly: 95.9°F averageAugust: 95.1°F averageSeptember: 88.5°F averageOctober: 76.4°F averageNovember: 63.8°F averageDecember: 54.5°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Iron Mtn, 25 miles from the center point at 922 feet, station USC00044297 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

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

Campsite Atlas →

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

National Park System units within 30 miles · Park Atlas

Guidebooks for California

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Walkabout Northern California
    Tom Courtney, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Backpacking California
    Wilderness Press, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Coastal trails of Southern California
    Linda B. Mullally, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking northern California
    Bubba Suess, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California
    Shawnte Salabert, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Sheephole Valley Wilderness?

188,169 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Sheephole Valley Wilderness?

The Bureau of Land Management.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Sheephole Valley Wilderness in?

California.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Sheephole Valley Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1994.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How do I get to Sheephole Valley Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 34.227° N, 115.553° W. Joshua Tree National Park is 16 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Which national parks are near Sheephole Valley Wilderness?

Joshua Tree National Park (16 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.

Source: Nearby on the other atlases

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.