Turtle Mountains Wilderness
The Turtle Mountains Wilderness encompasses a diverse, scenic landscape. The area ranges from broad bajadas to highly eroded volcanic peaks, spires, and cliffs. The Mopah Range contains the two signature Mopah Peaks, which are rhyodactic or volcanic plugs. The northern most peak is a landmark known as Mexican Hat. The colorful Turtle Mountains vary from deep reds, browns, tans and grays, to black. Much of the Turtle Mountain range has been designated as a National Natural Landmark in recognition of its exceptional natural values. The area has numerous springs and seeps; however, several of them were developed with wells prior to Wilderness designation.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 177,309 acres |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.32° N, 114.85° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 28) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
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.
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Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Turtle Mountains Wilderness?
177,309 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Turtle Mountains Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Turtle Mountains Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Turtle Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Turtle Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.316° N, 114.851° 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.