EXAMPLES OF AGENCY SIGNS BLM SPECIAL EDITION 1999 SURFACE MANAGEMENT STATUS DESERT ACCESS GUIDE

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Owlshead Mountains

USDA FOREST SERVICE

[:100,000-Scale topographic map showing:

Highways, roads and other manmade Mi in lures

W'iiler features

Contours and elevations in meters

Recreation sites Partial coverage of former desert access guide #6 Dumont/Clark Mountain NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

INTTED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Of I AND MANAGEMENT

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS l.ditrd and published by (he Bureau of ! and Management National Applied Resource Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management California State Office. Planimetry partially revised by BLM from various source material. Revised information not field checked.

Base map prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey. Compiled from USGS l:62,500-scale topographic maps dated 1948-1956, ana from advance materials. Partially revised from aerial photographs taken 1976-80 CALIFORNIA STATE and other source data. Revised information not field VEHICULAR RECREATION AREA checked. Map edited 1993.

Help protect your public lands by observing posted OHV designations. Watch for OHV signs and read Projection and 10,000-meter grid, zone 11: Universal them carefully. Transverse Mercator. 25,000-foot grid ticks based on California coordinate system, zone 4 & 5. For more information contact the BLM, USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, California Stote Park, 1927 North American Datum. or California State Motorized Vechicle Recreation Area Office (see back panel for address and phone Land lines are omitted in areas of extensive tract surveys. numbers). There may be private inholdings within the boundaries of the National or State reservations shown on this map.

NATIONAL GEODETIC VERTICAL DATUM OF 1929

THIS MAP COMPLIES WITH NATIONAL MAP ACCURACY STANDARDS

CONVERSION TABLE DECLINATION DIAGRAM ADJOINING MAPS

Mill IRS I FEET 1 1 I

1 2 3 Sea Level Sea Level 250 820 4 5 The Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife 500 1640 Service, USDA Forest Service, and National Park 750 2461 6 7 8 Service wilderness areas shown on this map were 1000 3281 derived from the legislative maps, such as the 1250 4101 1 Darwin Hills 1500 4921 2 Death Valley June. California Desert Protection Act of 1994. For more 1750 5741 information, contact the representative agency. 3 Las Vegas 4 Ridgecrest To convert meters to feet UTM grid convergence 5 Mesquite Lake multiply by 3.2808 (GN) and 1993 magnetic 6 Cuddeback Lake declination (MNj To convert feet to meters at center of map 7 Soda Mountains multiply by 0.3048 Diagram is approximate 8 Ivanpah

FOR SALE BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT CALIFORNIA STATE OFFICE SACRAMENTO, CA 95825 AND U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DENVER, CO 80225

ISBN 0-bD7-c14E55--X

iliumll l 20% 780607 942552 TOTAL RECOVERED FIBER

Topographic Map Symbols

Primary highway, hard surface wmmmmm——————

Secondary highway, hard surface _„^=

Light duty, hard, or aggregate surface

'rh-'rlv ••HU\', !|[iifif'?LJmmo(fTiafum! surface ......

'•.'ait, |)!udt!(i oj Iwo tracked surface ......

Trail (foot, pack, bicycle, or as labeled). . PACK.

Route marker; Interstate; U.S.; State...... I J f^T fX

Railroad: standard gage; narrow gage...... , , .

Bridge; overpass; underpass , •»„..,. r ! I

Tunnel: road; railroad \ t , > /,

Built up area; locality; elevation ' t I . • 155 CALIFORNIA DESERT AREA ACCESS GUIDE Airport; landing field; landing strip M^ / INDEX TO 1.100,000-SCALE MAPS National boundary State boundary

RED OUTLINE INDICATES PREVIOUS DESERT ACCESS GUIDES County boundary , ,

National or State reservation boundary, . . .

Land grant boundary. . „ ,

U.S. public lands survey; range, township; section......

Range, township; section line, protracted

Power transmission line; pipeline . .

Dam; dam with lock . • - '"(l-1

Cemetery; building . 1 Cem . nJ

Windmill; water well; spring %

Mine shaft; adit or cave; mine, quarry; gravel pit ...... n >— X X

Campground; picnic area; U.S. location monument. . . . i -*• ^

Ruins; cliff dwelling L J"]™-]

Distorted surface: strip mine, quarry; gravel pit , Srwfl^ftsfe

Contours: index; intermediate; supplementary -/ ^—s

Bathymetric contours; index; intermediate. s"—

Stream, lake: perennial; intermittent .

Rapids, large and small; falls, large and small _i—X

Area to be submerged; marsh, swamp —

Land subject to controlled inundation

Special area boundary . . _ , SPECIAL SYMBOL BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT POINTS OF INTEREST RECREATIONAL SYMBOL BLM recreation area boundary . „ , . INDEX TO 1:24,000-SCALE MAPS LEGEND LAND STATUS LEGEND (SEE BACKSIDE FOR INFORMATION) LEGEND Public lands (Administered by National \KQ\\; back country, scenic byway 1 Anvil Spring Canyon West 17 Hidden Spring 2 Anvil Spring Canyon East 18 Quail Spring Locked Gate —• Bureau of Land Management) Indian Lands or Reservations I State Lands Department of Energy 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 Campground All Terrain Vehicle Trail Drinking Water NOTE TO MAP USERS 4 Oregon & California Lands 'O&C* Route /Trail Marker Military Reservations and Withdrawals , f 4 Epaulet Peak 20 East of Owl Lake WilaVfre 'viewing Area Four Wheel Drive Trail Trs'.'.e: Sa-r/ar, Station The surface and mine:ct ; — :. • ozer"erf 'iirzf'.a :'•'-T^-C are published as genera! Coos Bay Wagon Road (CBWR) .. Corps of Engineers I Bureau of Reclamation Radio and Air Facilities 5 Salsberry Peak 21 Old Ibex Pass Bureau of Land Management . . \3387 planning and management tools. Some of the lands, surface and mineral rights, 6 Shoshone 22 Saddle Peak Hills Hiking Off Highway Vehicle Area Gasoline Station may have been shown as patented lands due to the lack of information 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 National Wildlife Refuges (Administered , Power Withdrawals and 7 Resting Spring 23 Dumont Dunes Forest Service IFS2641 National Forest available to BLM with respect to the nature of acquisition. Tracts less than 40 8 North ofTecopa Pass 24 Valjean Hills by Fish & Wildlife Service) I Classifications Miscellaneous Restrooms Scenic Geology Telephone acres are usually omitted because of the map scale. The official land records in 9 Wingate Wash West 25 West of Leach Spring County. [IJjJ Bankhead-Jones Land Use Lands . Federal Agency Protective State, County, City; Wildlife, Park the respective offices of the Bureau of Land Management or other responsible 10 Wingate Wash East 26 Leach Spring Scenic Area Point of Interest Ranger Station Federal agencies should be checked for up-to-date status on any specific tract 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 National Grasslands (L.U. Lands) I Withdrawals and Outdoor Recreation Areas 11 Confidence Hills West 27 Leach Lake National Park Service jL/jL?2r" Historic Site of land. Inadequacies in the BLM maps should be reported to the respective 12 Confidence Hills East 28 East of Leach Lake Acquired Lands Bureau of Land Management offices from which the maps were obtained. 13 Ibex Spring 29 Avawatz Pass National Parks and Monuments Patented Lands I Public Water Reserves (By Administering Agency) 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 14 Ibex Pass 30 Sheep Creek Spring PUBLIC ACCESS 15 Tecopa 31 Silurian Lake 16 Tecopa Pass 32 Silurian Hills Roads crossing public lands may be travelled by the public unless closed by signing or notice by the land management agency. Public lands intervened by private lands may not have public access. Permission is required from the private landowner to cross pnvaie land, unless access is provided by a Federal. I State, or County road, or a BLM road with legal access. WELCOME TO THE CALIFORNIA DESERT WHO MANAGES THE DESERT El Centiro Field Office Havasu National Wildlife Refuge 1661 S.,4th Street P.O. Box 3009 Bureau of Land Management (BLM): The Within its 25-million-acre expanse—an area the size of Ohio—lies a land of extreme contrasts. From the relatively high Mojave Desert of Joshua El Centro, CA 92243 Needles, CA 92363 California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) trees and creosote to the lower Colorado Desert of native fan palms, smoke trees and ocotillo, the California Desert offers a multitude of recreational (760) 337-4400 (760) 326-3853 was created by Congress in 1976 and opportunities. Whether you have come to hike or backpack, tour by auto or four-wheel drive, enjoy your off-highway vehicle (OITvj, or ride horses or have been seen. To get to this and Goldfield, Nevada. While this railroad protected as an Area of Critical Internet: www.ca. blm.gov/elcentro includes a long-term land use plan for the mountain bikes, please Tread Lightly! on the desert and Leave No Trace of your visit. wilderness, take California Highway 127, line never flourished financially, it was an Environmental Concern. Imperial National Wildlife Refuge '••• 77 '•• • 77 : 77- ' 7. . . 77; ..77,7. ! ! 7 .. ' 777: • • :;:;... :::7; . 7; '. • • .7:7.....: . .. ;7 77.77 .7 management of public lands. The mission of (See map, F-2) This wilderness includes to the Old Spanish Trail highway. important transportation link for miners, Needles Field Office P.O. Box 72217 : the BLM is to sustain the health, diversity portions of the Ibex Hills, Dublin Hills, lllllllllll 9A v l^&% i| W77:7b.7. . • • f <7 ';;;L I!;;- £ 1 111 I S:|;§|||§|tl; mining companies, and desert residents, 101 W. Spikes Road Yuma, AZ 85365 0 Teec.; • and productivity of the public lands for the and the Black Mountains. The Ibex Hills and thus was kept in operation. Shipping Needles, CA 92363 (520) 783-3371 use and enjoyment of present and future provide a ruggecL north-south divide borax by rail replaced the famous 20- (760) 326-7000 •'•••? Jti^llfe^ii^^^^P^' (See mfrp, H-2) The hot springs located in generations. BLM offices are maintained in between Greenwater Valley's alluvial Owlshead Mountains mule teams used by the Harmony Borax Internet: www.ca.blm.gov/needles Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Tecopa, California, were first occupied by Riverside, Barstow, El Centro, Needles, Palm slopes, on the east, and the Black (See map, H-3) China Ranch, located in Works. The T&T also served as the P.O.Box 6290 Native Americans, who, believing the water Springs and Ridgecrest. beautiful Amargosa Canyon near Tecopa, shortest, fastest, and cheapest rail route Mountains, on the west. to be tf erapeutic, regularly brought their Palm Springs/South Coast Field Office Yuma, AZ 85364 HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE is a family-operated date farm with a to Los Angeles and San Francisco for all 690 W. Garnet Avenue (520) 783-7861 sick anl lame to the springs to bathe. National Park Service (NPS): The NPS colorful history. The ranch has been of the towns and mines along the P.O. Box 2000 The Black Mountains and Ibex Hills climb manages Death Valley and Joshua Tree Contact your local land management office design;iled a Natural Area and is open to Amargosa River and within the Death North Palm Springs, CA 92258 from 3,000 to 4,752 feet. Horizontal rock Later, European Immigrants and horse Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge when planning your trip to the desert. They the public. Valley region. National Parks as well as the Mojave layers of red, yellow, brown, and black (760) 251 1800 906 W. vSinehiir can provide you with maps and any needed thieves came to t he ana, trying to find a National Preserve. All units of the NPS are create a dramatic effect during late, winter Interne : www.ccLblrn.gov/palrnsprtngs Calipatria. CA 92233 permits, as well as up-to-date information route across Death Valley to the California managed to "conserve the scenery and Un­ afternoons. Evidence of historic tale Shortened from "Chinaman's Ranch", the As the mines were depleted, the T&T (760) 348-5278 on seasonal and emergency closures, gold fields. They, too, used the waters to natural and historic objects and I In- wildlilr mining can be found in the area, which is name was inspired by a Chinese man brought supplies and passengers in and Ridgecest Field Office weather and road conditions. When seek relet from the miseries ol arthritis, therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of also home to desert bighorn sheep. who originally boniesteaded here in the out of the region, but by 1940, all 300 S. Richmond Road traveling in the desert, please keep in mind rheumatism, mid related ailments. the same in such a manner and by such 188()'s. Alter working the borax mines in operations ceased. The rails and ties were Ridgecrfest, CA 93555 California State Parks the following: means as will leave them unimpaired for the Death Valley, be came here to raise fresh salvaged in 1943, during World War II. In (760) 3*4-5-100 This wilderness can be accessed from Locatec. a short distance oil California enjoyment ol future generations." National Internet: www.ceres.ca.gov/dpr vegetables, hogs, and chickens for sale order to preserve what remains of Un­ Internet: inrtr.cu.hlm.gov/ridgccrest California Highways 127 and 178. Highway 127, between linker and Death Park designation implies a large, lJ These maps do not show the entire desert to the Ineal had and silver mines. original route, the remnant of the old Valley Junction, Tecopa Hot Springs is the J spectacular natural place having a wide Angeles District - Mojave Desert Sector route network. railroad grade from Sperry, California, to Kingman Field Office quintessential, almost mythical, desert variety of attributes. National Preserves have 43779 15th Street West 0 : ' rjiftte 7; " ' < , t Nearby is the Old Spanish Trail, as well the California/Nevada border has been 2475 Beverly Ave trailer village- of the American Southwest. similar qualities, but also allow hunting or Lancaster, CA 93534 U Road conditions and hazards are not as the historic- Tonopah and Tidewater closed to motorized travel. Kingman. AZ 86-10 1 3029 (805) 942-0662 (See map, 1-4) The Kingston Range forms A road leads from nearby Shoshone across other commercial uses. marked. (Tiki) Railroad grade. A scenic trail (520) 6*2-4400 the desert to Pahrump, Nevada. Las Vegas, 17 miles of continuous ridgeline above through the Natural Area connects it a hundred miles away, oilers a glittery Anza-Borrego Desert State Park 6,000 feet, capped by 7,300-foot Kingston with the town of Tecopa. To get to China © Amargosa Canyon Department of Defense (DOD): Large areas • Signs on I lie ground take precedence over Lake Havasu Field Office 200 Palm Canyon Drive Peak, and surfaces like an island in a sea Ranch, lake the Furnace Creek Wash contrast to the sleepy desert campground. of the California Desert are under the information on the maps. (See map, H-3) The Amargosa Canyon 2610 Sweetwater Ave Borrego Springs, CA 92004 of desert lowlands. A bajada slopes south Road just a few miles southeast of management of the military: the Marine Natural Area is located along the Lake Hfivasu City, AZ 86406 907 I (760) 767-5311 NPS: In National Parks, camping is permitted by state and local laws. Shooters from the range, draining into the Kingston Tecopa, California, and turn south on Corps Training Base at Twentynine Palms, IJ Boundaries arc graphic representations Amargosa River drainage in southern 0 Sh-hone (520) 505 1200 generally limited to 14 days; however, are prohibited from destroying any natural Wash. A small stand of white fir grows at China Ranch Road. Chocolate Mountains Gunnery Range, El only and are not shown to scale. Inyo County, California. An extremely Cuyamaca Raneho State Park there are exceptions. NPS also offers features, including, cactus and other plants. the upper elevations of the Kingston Peak, (See rmhp, G 1) The small town of Centra Naval Air Facility Ranges, the Naval rich and diverse assortment of wildlife — Yuma ileld Office backcountry camping. Contact each A firearm may not be discharged within 150 and over 500 plant species can be found Shoshone, located a lew miles north of Weapons Center at China Lake, Edwards Air 12551 Hwy. 79 Not all land in the desert is public. Private including a great variety of birds — lives 2555 Gila Ridge Road individual park for details on their yards of any developed area. here, making this wilderness one of the 0 Nopah Range Wilderness Tecopa serves as a wintering area for Force Base and the Army's National Descano, CA 91916 land is scattered throughout the California Yuma, AZ 8530;. camping opportunities and reservations. most botanically diverse in the Mojave •M imiHllWilb 7: on this isolated stretch of surface water retired snowbirds. Miners looking loi Training Center at Fort Irwin. (760) 765-0755 Desert. Please respect private property and (See map, I 1) The Chicago Valley, with !ioimding, and wildlife viewing. Outside of the open area, vehicle use is (520) 317 3200 NPS: The possession of a firearm or air-gun Desert. in the canyon and adjacent river gold and silver once lived in the town; leave all gates as you found them. many winding, light-colored stream Wild dowers carpet the countryside in restricted to open routes of travel. No Internet: iririr.az.hlm.gov/yuma CSP: Camping in most State Parks is is prohibited unless it is unloaded and cased drainage. when these valuable minerals were California State Parks (CSP): The Mitchell Caverns Natural Preserve beds, is a flat north-south divide springtime. Dumont Dunes is an often- glass containers are allowed in the open permitted in designated areas. Contact the or otherwise packed to prevent use. Target The Kingston Range Wilderness is one of depleted, some stayed on to mine for the California Department of Parks and P.O. Box 1 between the Resting Spring Range to the used setting for films, television area, and safety flags are required on all Battle Mountain Field Office park you intend to visit to learn more shooting is illegal in the Mojave National only four places in California where People an- known to have lived in this rich deposits of borax and talc, until prices Recreation manages diverse cultural, Essex, CA 92332 west and the Nopah Range to the east. commercials, and commercial still recj-eational vehicles. Access to the area 50 Bastian Road RECREATION INFORMATION about their camping facilities. Some parks Preserve, but hunting is allowed and is confirmed sightings of the banded gila area for the past 8,000 years. Four dropped. The town now has unusual historical and natural resource.-, lor (760) 928-2586 Both mountain ranges are large and photography. is from California Highway 127, 31 miles Battle mountain, NV 89820 1420 offer family and group campsites. regulated by the California Department of monster have been made. Year-round distinct cultures have been discovered, "apartments," old miner's homes which posterity while offering an abundance of Whatever outdoor recreation activity you rugged with dramatic geologic north of Baker, California. (702) 635 4000 Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Campsite reservations can be made Fish and Game. water and associated wetlands provide now known as the Paleo-Indian, the Lake were dqg into the sides of hills, complete recreational and educational opportunities. enjoy, the following information will help to landscapes. Located near (he center of the Mojave I nlernejt: www.nv.blm.gov/Baitle_Mtn Recreation Area year-round by calling DESTINFT at (800) food for wildlife, as well as cover and Mohave/Pinto, the Amargosa, and the with chimneys, porches, and adjoining In the desert, these include Red Rock assure safe and enjoyable visits for Desert, (lose to Death Valley, the remote ;.'jp '«^;-v P.O. Box 360 444-7275. CSP: I hinting or the possession of loaded habitat for birds, fish, mammals, and Shoshonean. Two historic transportation I ( )( >I11S. Canyon, Saddleback Butte, Anza Born-go everyone. Geology here includes mountains, dunes can become dangerously hot and \M Tonopah f. Las Vegas Field Office firearms is prohibited in most units of the in .sects. routes ran through Amargosa Canyon - Desert, the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, 5172 Hwv. 78 alluvia] tans, badlands, playas, plains, dry. Bring extra water and other &.T) Railroad •1705 West Vegas Drive Borrego Springs, CA 92004 SVRA: You can camp anywhere in the State Park system. the Old Spanish Trail in the 1830's and a Shoshone is an oasis in the desert, Mitchell Caverns Natural Preserve, Salton Campfires river washes, and hills rising from 1,800 emergency supplies, especially during portion of the Tonopah and Tidewater Sea, Picacho State Recreation Area and the Las Vegas. NV 89108 (760) 767-5391 Ocotillo Wells SVRA. There are several Access to the Kingston Range- is from (See map. I 5) For 35 years, from 1905 to complete with marsh grasses blowing in To protect sparse to 6,395 led. Only creosote, cacti, yucca, the summer months. Railroad constructed in 1906. The Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Area. (702) 647 5023 tables, ramadas, and fire rings scattered SVRA: Possession of loaded firearms is California Highway 127, the Old Spanish 1940, the tonopah and Tidewater (T&T) the wind, unusual geologic formations vegetation and the and other desert shrub species cover the railroad rails were removed during World Internet: trtnr.nr.him.gor/Las Vegas Palomar Mountain State Park throughout the SVRA for your prohibited. Trail highway: or along the eastern south cf town, and a small museum. fragile desert sweeping bajadas, giving the mountains Railroad ran between Ludlow, California, War II, and all bridges and most railroad P.O. Box 175 convenience. boundary, from the ExcelsteHr Mine Road, These hills ,u <• composed of tuff, a rock U. S. Forest Service (USFS): The USFS ecosystem, bring their barren character. ties liave been destroyed by vandalism. benefits Americans in many ways through Palomar, CA 92060 firewood from USFS: Target shooting and "plinking" are via Cima Road, off Interstate-15, 26 miles which is formed from fine-grained volcanic weathering, and erosion. management of the National Forests and National Park Service (760) 742-3462 home. USFS: The USFS offers developed, family, permitted in some areas and are regulated by east of Baker, California. material composed of ash and dust, mixed Bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, golden Grasslands, forestry research, and Internet: www.nps.gov Regulations group, undeveloped, and remote camping county ordinances and Federal regulations. vvilb lake sediment. eagles, and prairie falcons all inhabit Access to Amargosa Canyon is by way of cooperation with forest managers on state Picachc State Recreation Area vary among opportunities. For specific information on Notes 0 Saddle Peak Hills Wilderness this wilderness, while wild horses and State I lighway 127 to the Old Spanish and private land. It offers a variety of Death {Valley National Park P.O. Box 84 8 agencies and camping in USFS areas, contact the near USFWS: Some National Wildlife Refuges allow Shoshone is located 57 miles south- burros roam the Chicago Valley. Access Trail I lighway, just south of Shoshone, outdoor recreational opportunities and Death Valley, CA 92328 4900 Pieacho Road seasons. est USFS office. To make reservations at hunting during hunting season. Target (See map, G-3) The Saddle Peak Hills form soutl ie4st of the Furnace Creek Visitor Nopah Range Wilderness from California California. Go east for approximately 4 manages special areas. The Cleveland, San (700) 786-2331 Winterhaven, CA 92283 Always check popular campgrounds, call shooting is not allowed on National Wildlife the western three-quarters of this ( enter, 28 miles south of Death Valley Highway 178, also known as the Old Bernardino, Angeles, Sequoia and Inyo Internet: wivw.nps.gov/deva (760) 39.3-3052 with the 1 -800-280-CAMP. Refuges. Call USFWS for current information. wilderness, which also includes the miles to Tecopa and follow the signs. Junction and 26 miles southwest of Spanish Trail. National Forests surround the California " \ local office northwestern portion of the Silurian Pahrump, Nevada on California Highway Desert. Joshua. Tree National Park Salton Sea State Recreation Area before USFWS: Camping is permitted at some Valley, both of which can be clearly seen 127, at out 50 miles north of Baker. Pets i. • • V Lv. C-J • . 74485 National Park Drive 100-225 State Park Road building a National Wildlife Refuges. Contact the from California Highway 127 north of 0 out Dunes Off-Highway USFWS for more information. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS): twentynine Palms, CA 92277 North Shore, CA 92254 campfire. Pets are welcome in all areas if kept on a Baker. This modest wilderness lies Vehicle Eecreation Area (See map, H-2) The Grimshaw Lake 0 s|| Creel The USFWS manages a system of land and (700) 367-1260 (760) 393 3059 leash. National Park and California State immediately adjacent to Death Valley Natural Area extends along the Amargosa waters for I he conservation offish and 1111 (-met: www.nps.gov/joir Park regulations are strictly enforced. National Park. The hills are cut by curved (See map, H-4) Dumont Dunes is a River adjacent to the Tecopa Hot Springs. (See map, H-5) Water flow generated by wildlife and associated ecosystems. National Remember to clean up after your pet. When faults, and range in elevation from 500 remote area for off-highway vehicle Connected geographically to Amargosa several small desert springs, as well as California Vehicle Travel Wildlife Refuges offer recreational oppor­ Mojave National Preserve Visitor Centers considering leaving pets in vehicles or feet on the valley floor to 2,500 feet at the (OHV) use. Bordered by steep volcanic Canyon, the Natural Area extends along winter drainage from neighboring Silurian Fire Permit tunities to the public, including wildlife 222 E. Main Street, Suite 202 trailers, be aware that temperatures can rise summits. The geologic features here hills and the slow-moving Amargosa the Amargosa River drainage to the Valley, come together to form a unique Due to diverse topography, plants, soils observation, nature photography, hiking, Barstow, CA92311 quickly to lethal levels in the summer heat. represent common landforms found Idver, this popular OHV area can be vicinity of Tecopa. trihutaiy to the Amargosa River, known as and land ownership in California, off-high fishing and hunting. Refuges in the (760) 255-8800 Bureau of Land Management (BLM): A throughout the surrounding desert and its seen from a distance, the towering white Salt Creek. The streamside vegetation at CA Welcome Center way vehicle (OHV) regulations vary from California Desert include Cibola, Havasu, Internet: www.nps.gov/moja campfire permit is required at all times. A rugged mountains. This wilderness can be sand dunes softly contrasting with the The presence of permanent, flowing water Salt Creek is about the only water-based 2796 Tanger Way Suite 106 area to area. Flash floods are common in Imperial, and Salton Sea National Wildlife free permit is available at all BLM offices accessed from California Highway 127. dark hills and blue mountains beyond. is a rare occurrence in the Mojave Desert; babital] in over 1500 square miles of Barstow. CA 92311 the desert, so avoid crossing washes, and PROTECTED RESOURCES Refuges. Lake Mead National Recreation Area and visitor centers. Open fires may be the lake provides precious habitat for desert! (760) 253-4813 wait a few hours after a heavy rain, (heck ooi Nevada Highway banned completely during periods of high Historic and Archaeological Sites desert wildlife, localized plants, and a with the appropriate land management Most visitors to the area ride Boulder City, NV 89005 fire danger. Outside of existing campfire 0 South Nopah Range Wilderness variety of waterfowl and migratory birds, Big Bear Discovery Center agency before you visit an area. motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, sand Early INative Americans used the Salt rings, please use a metal fire pan. Firewood FOR MORE INFORMATION (702) 293-8907 North SI lore/Highway 38 The California Desert possesses thousands of rails, or four-wheel drive vehicles. The such as the California Yellow-billed Creek Hills as a source of food and shelter; (See map, 1-2) California Highway 178, the Internet: wuiw.nps.gov/lame collection is restricted to down and dead Cuckoo and the Least Bell's Vireo. P.O. Box 66 historic and archaeological sites. The Old Spanish Trail, bisects the Nopah easily-accessed areas, just off the the pioneering Latter Day Saints crossed Rangers and other staff are in the California materials. BLM: All BLM-managed public lands In Fawnskin, CA 92333 petroglyphs and intaglios left by the earliest Range and forms a boundary for this entrance road, are used exclusively for through the area following the famous Desert to help you have an enjoyable and the California Desert are designated as (909) 866-3437 Indian inhabitants, the trails of early Spanish wilderness area. The sedimentary rocks of OHV and sand rail staging and play. Due Small areas of wetland vegetation support Mormon Trail; and miners worked the one of three vehicle-use categories: safe visit. Contact any of the offices listed National Park Service (NPS): In Death populations of the Amargosa Vole, the U. S. Forest Service explorers, the vestiges of mining camps and these mountains rise to 4,200 feet, with to the remoteness of the area, there are area extensively over the past century. below for site specific information and Internet: www.r5.pswfs.gov Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks, roads used by later settlers, and the gently rolling alluvial slopes on the east few requests for competitive event Amargosa pocket gopher, the speckled Interagency Visitor Center J Open Areas are open to vehicle use assistance. campfires arc permit ted in designated remnants of General George Patton's WWII and west. Vegetation here is sparse, with permits, leaving the location available dace, the Amargosa River pupfish, and An interpretive trail begins approximately Drawer R campgrounds. Where fireplaces arc not anywhere within the posted boundaries. Angeles National Forest Jet. Hwv. 395 &Hwy 136 desert warfare training areas are just a tew of prairie falcons having been seen hunting exclusively for casual riding. I he Tecopa Bird's-beak plant. These 15 miles north of Baker, off California provided, fires are restricted to portable Travel off established routes 701 North Santa Anita Avenue Lone Pine, CA 93545 the sites that provide a rich and Important over most of the lowland areas. The species are very sensitive to disturbance, 1 lighway 127, taking visitors on an stoves. In the Mojave National Preserve, ((TOSS country) is permitted. Bureau of Land Management Ai.adia, CA 91006 (760) 876-6222 legacy of more than 10,000 years of human environment here is suitable for the ivory - There are also many opportunities here which is the reason Grimshaw Lake is historical and ecological journey through open campfires an- limited to existing Internet: wwir.ca.iAm.gov (818) 574-1613 history in North America. Visit these sites spined agave, and wild horses and burros for hiking, rock scrambling, rock the Salt Creek Hills. campfire rings or a metal fire pan. The J Closed Areas arc closed to all motorized and reflect on (he forces and events that www. iw. blm.gov Mojave Desert Information Center collection of wood, living or dead, anywhere vehicle use. have shaped our nation and our personal azwww.az.blm.gov Cleveland National Forest Mojave National Preserve within NPS lands is prohibited. lives. 10845 [Raneho Bernardo Road P.O. Box 241 J Limited Areas arc open to motorized California Desert District Office Raneho Bernardo, CA 92127 72157 Baker Blvd. 6221 Box Springs Blvd. California State Parks (CSP): Open ground vehicle use, subject to posted Remember, historic- and archaeological sites (760) 673-6180 Baker, CA 92309 Riverside, CA 92507 fires are not allowed. ('an i pi ires arc allowed restrictions. No cross-country travel is are fragile, non-renewable resources. (780) 733-4040 in fire rings found in designated campsites pci mil ted iii I,hinted Areas. (909) 697-5200 Inyo National Forest Unfortunately, many of these sites have been mine may pose hazards, including dan Follow U-ave No Trace (LNT) guidelines to responsible for learning about and Learn how to use a (ope DO NOT RATION WATER: it will only do catalytic converter', oi exhaust pipes can and day-use areas. Portable grills may be Internet: uiww.ca.blm.gov/cdd 873 N J Main Street Anza-Borrego Desert State Park damaged by casual collecting, as well as by gerous shafts and tunnels and the minimize the Impacts of your next wilder­ respecting regulations that protect desert graphic map and a com you good if you drink it. ignite dry material and cause a wildfire. used, but ashes and coals may not be NPS: Only street legal vehicles may be deliberate looting and vandalism. It is illegal Bishop, CA 93514 Visitor Center remains of hazardous chemicals, such ness visit. wildlife and resources. You can be a part pass before you hike Barstow Field Office dumped on the ground; use the fire rings or operated within NILS managed lands. All to remove artifacts or other objects of (760) 6 78-2400 200 Palm Canyon Drive as mercury and cyanide, that may have ol our efforts to reduce the decline- in cross-country or on 2601 Barstow Road carry them out. off road travel is prohibited. antiquity from public lands. Observe sites Mine Shafts and Tunnels Borrego Springs, CA 92004 been used in milling processes. Military • Plan ahead and prepare desert tortoise and other threatened and trails that are not well Barstow, CA 92311 from a distance, take care not to disturb the training areas still have unexploded • Travel and camp on durable surfaces endangered species populations. These defined. It is easy to San Bernardino National Forest (760) 767-5311 For your safety, avoid entering mine (760) 252-6000 California State Vehicular Recreation CSP: Only street-legal vehicles may be surface of a sile, and do not remove artifacts land mines and ammunition. If you • Pack it in, pack it out species are fully protected by state and become disoriented 1824 L Commereeeenter Circle shafts or tunnels. They are extremely Internet: www.ca.blm.gov/barstow Area (SVRA): Open ground fires are allowed. operated, and only on designated roads. or other objects. I lelp preserve and protect encounter any of these hazards, please • Properly dispose of what you can't Federal laws and must not be disturbed, in the desert where San Bernardino, CA 92408 Mojave Desert Multi-Agency dangerous due to unstable walls and Use of campfire rings is encouraged. Leave this legacy so that future generations may stay clear and notify local law enforce­ peek oiit collected, killed or harassed. If you see many landmarks All fireworks are prohibited on (661) \ 83-5588 Information Center odorless toxic fumes. Entering mines can Bakersfield Field Office No Trace and pick up any debris (nails, SVRA: Cross-country travel is permitted also visit, enjoy and learn about our heritage. ment or a BLM Ranger. • Leave what you find someone take a tortoise from the desert, and rock forma BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS and California Stale Parks also disturb wildlife (bats and mice) living 3801 Pegasus Drive ashes, and coals). Bring your own firewood. only in designated, open OHV areas. In all • Minimize use and impacts of fire please notify CALTIP (800) 952-5400 or tions look similar. State Parks land. Sequoia National Forest 43779 15th Street West Dead wood may not be gathered. in them. Bakersfield, CA 93308 900 W Grand Avenue Lancaster, CA 93534 other areas, vehicles are limited to • Enjoy rock art (petroglyphs and picto- J Historic and archaeological sites are For more LNT information call 1-800- any law enforcement agency. (661) 391-6000 Porterville, CA 93257 (661) 942-0662 approved routes of travel. graphs) by viewing, sketching or pho­ protected by law. Severe civil and crimi­ 332-4100. j Dress Properly U.S. Forest Service (USFS): Campfire Internet: www.ca.blm.gov/bakersfield (209) 784-1500 tographing it. Do not i niiffijir- nal penalties will be brought, against Vehicles permits are required year-round. Fire Jawbone Station USFS: OHV riding areas are designated use chalk or other individuals who damage or otherwise Responsible land use depends more on Wear layered clothing to slow dehydration restrictions vary depending on the level of Bishop Field Office P.O. Box D trails and routes. Ride responsibly and materials to trace or harm these resources. Conviction can your attitude and awareness than on and minimize exposure. Be sure to use Keep your vehicle well maintained. Carry fire danger. Contact a USFS office to find 785 N. Main Street, Suite E Jet. Hwy. 14 & Jawbone Rd. follow signs. otherwise touch carry criminal penalties of up to 2 years rules and regulations. good hiking shoes, loose-fit- fn^S&te extra water and food, a shovel, tools, a National Wildlife Refuges out current information. Bishop, CA 93514 Cantil, CA 93519 rock art. Direct in prison and/or $250,000 in fines, as ting natural liber cloth­ tow strap, flares and blankets. Check Internet: www.fws.gov Be sun to Tread Lightly! by: (760) 872-4881 USFWS: Some refuge roads and trails are contact can ^ MILITARY EXPLOSIVES (760) 373-1146 well as civil penalties such as vehicle ing, a wide brimmed if road conditions and beware of flash Internet: www.ca.blm.gov/bishop U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS): closed to motorized vehicles. accelerate the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge confiscation or site restoration costs. • Travel only where permitted; hat, sunglasses and ^Na* floods. If you are stranded, stay with your Largi areas of the desert have been and Campfires are not permitted on most disintegration of 1 Box AP Santa Rosa Mountains National Scenic • Respect the rights of others; sunscreen. Desert tem­ vehicle; it is much easier to spot a vehicle are sill used as bombing ranges and National Wildlife Refuges. Hunting and Target Shooting these ancient fig- 1 peratures can reach over 90°F Blythe, CA 92225 Area Visitor Center Wilderness • Educate yourself; than a person on foot. train ng arenas by the U.S. Armed Forces. ures. Local rock | and drop below 50°F in one day. (520) 857-3253 51-500 Hwy. 74 • Avoid driving throught wet areas and There are still many unexploded devices The majority of public lands managed by art societies and DESERT SAFETY TIPS Summer temperatures can exceed Palm Desert, CA 92260 The 1964 Wilderness Act defines wilder­ areas easily scarred by churning Backcountry Permits lying around. Do not handle anything the BLM and USFS are open to hunting. amateur archaeolog­ 125°F in some locations. Winter (760) 862-9984 Camping ness as areas "where the Earth and its wheels; Travel in the desert can be an adventure. resembling military explosives. Report any All California State laws regarding ical organizations are temperatures can often drop community of life are untrammeled by • Drive responsibly to protect the envi­ It can also be a disaster if a breakdown or A backcountry permit may be required for such device you observe to your local law hunting, including the possession of a good places to learn about recording and below freezing. man, where man himself is a visitor who ronment. enforcement office. A wide range of camping opportunities are protecting rock art. sudden change in weather catches you overnight camping or travel. Check with valid state hunting license, are in effect on does not remain." There are 8 million available in the California Desert, from unprepared. Harsh weather conditions the appropriate office for the area you will these lands. Hunting opportunities exist acres of wilderness in the California Carry Plenty of Water developed campgrounds to primitive • Familiarize- yourself with rules that can turn a desert outing into a tragedy. be in. for migratory birds, upland game, fur- J Archaeological and cultural sites are often backcountry. Regulations vary among Desert. These Federal lands are adminis­ apply to the specific wilderness area that Acquire a knowledge of desert survival bearing mammals and big game, except [daces of ancestral, religious or cultural HAZARDOUS MATERIALS agencies and seasons. Contact the area you tered by the BLM, NPS, USFS and USFWS you intend to visit. Motorized equipment skills. Travel in pairs for safety in back- There are no dependable sources of water where prohibited by state or local laws or Importance to local Native American tribes wish to visit for more information. for the preservation and protection of and mechanical transport, such as country areas. within the California Desert. A gallon of Fire With the continued closure of toxic waste posted otherwise. Questions regarding Remember to Leave No Trace of your visit. and should be approached with respect. their natural conditions. Wilderness with­ chainsaws, motor vehicles and bicycles, water per person, per day is the disposal sites, the illegal dumping of haz­ For Emergencies these opportunities should be directed to Many tribes in the California Desert have in California State Parks is managed simi­ are prohibited in all wilderness areas. Plan Your Trip Carefully absolute minimum you should carry. One of the last thoughts on any desert ardous waste has increased throughout the local land management field office. For museums or public information centers; lar to Federal wilderness. The following DIAL 911 BLM: There are many developed Permits for visitation or use of pack When planning a hike, remember that visitor's mind is the danger of wildfire. the desert. Many of these materials are information on hunting or fishing reg­ contact them to learn more about their guidelines will help maintain the wilder­ Many people think the relatively sparse extrenely toxic to humans. To avoid campgrounds in the California desert. BLM animals are required in some wilderness Tell someone where you are going and water weighs approximately 8 pounds per ulations, call the CaJlfornla Department of history and culture. ness values for vou and other visitors. plant cover means the desert does not harrr, stay clear of suspicious drums, or also allows dispersed camping and has a areas. The managing agency is the best when you plan to return. Stick with your gallon. When the Fish and Game at (562) 590-5132. burn. But a desert fire, if conditions are bags or chemical odors. Visible fumes, number of Long Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs) source of current information. itinerary and let them know when you get water is half gone, • The California Desert has remnants of old right, can be just as dangerous and dead plants or animals in the immediate for "snowbirds" that flock to the desert in LI Use "Leave No Trace" tech­ back. Do not travel in the desert back- it is time to turn BLM: The shooting or discharge of destructive as wildfire in brushlands. vicinity, and sudden onset of illness or the winter months. For more specific mining camps, stagecoach stops and niques when preparing for Desert Tortoise and other Threatened country without taking along appropriate back. Be sure to H Center firearms is generally permitted on skin natation are signs of imminent dan­ information, contact any BLM office or homesteads, as well as WWII-era military your wilderness visit, travel­ and Endangered Species maps, such as 7.5-minute U.S. Geologic bring extra (909) 383-5651 BLM-managed lands unless posted ger. Report any suspected hazardous visitor center for a Recreation Opportunity camps and training areas. Please approach ing through wilderness, and Survey (USGS) topographic maps, which water for your When driving off maintained roads, avoid otherwise, as long as such activity is waste to your local law enforcement office. Guide (ROG). these sites with caution. An abandoned camping in wilderness. All California residents and visitors are show land contours and specific features. vehicle. stopping in tall grass or brush. Hot