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BLM
Barstow Area
Introduction
The
Barstow Field region covers an area from the northern
boundary of Joshua Tree National Park to the southern
boundary of Fort Irwin Military Reservation and from the
eastern boundary of San Bernardino National Forest to
north of Death Valley Junction, California, as far as
the California/Nevada state line.
The
desert within this area is vast, about three million acres,
and has many unique features. Elevations vary from near
sea level, north of Baker, California, to over 6,000 feet,
in the Ord Mountains south of Barstow. There are many
scenic locations with rough mountains, dry lake beds,
and winding canyons. Plants found here include various
cactus species and the Joshua Tree, the symbol of the
Mojave Desert. Winter days are usually comfortable in
the 70 degree F. range (about 20 degree C.), attracting
visitors who come to escape colder states. Summer days
can be hot and dry, with 110 degree F. (40 degree C.)
temperatures common.
Mission
The Bureau's mission is to sustain the health, diversity,
and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment
of present and future generations. As such, Bureau employees
manage the lands under their stewardship for the Nation's
benefit.
Wilderness
Resources
Congress
designated 69 BLM Wilderness Areas when it passed the
California Desert Protection Act of 1994. Fourteen of
those are partly or completely within the boundary covered
by BLM's Barstow Field Office. Wilderness within the area
totals nearly 563,000 acres. Six other areas covered by
the Barstow Field Office are still being considered for
wilderness designation; they total more than 300,000 acres.
Most
of these lands are within an easy drive of desert towns.
Some are located near Death Valley National Park, Joshua
Tree National Park, and Mojave National Preserve.
The
14 Wilderness areas defined within the Barstow Field Office
area:
Bighorn
Mountains
(26,685 acres) |
Black
Mountain
(13,940 acres) |
Cleghorn
Lakes
(33,980 acres) |
Funeral
Mountains
(28,110 acres) |
Hollow
Hills
(22,240 acres) |
Ibex
(26,460 acres) |
Kingston
Range
(80,715 acres)
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Newberry
Mountains
(22,900 acres) |
Nopah
Range
(110,860 acres) |
Pahrump
Valley
(72,000 acres) |
Resting
Spring Range
(78,868 acres)
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Rodman
Mountains
(27,690 acres) |
Saddle
Peak Hills
(1,440 acres)
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South
Nopah Range
(16,780 acres) |
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Terrain
features include dry lake beds, vast alluvial fans, low
dry hills, rocky highlands and a few summits above 6,000
feet. Mojave Desert plant communities are typical; spring
flower displays are unpredictable, but can be surprisingly
showy. Cool season visits are recommended (October - April);
leave hot-weather hiking to the initiated.
Visitor
use is light; overall wilderness qualities remain very
high - solitude, natural conditions, opportunities for
unconfined recreation. Hiking, horseback riding, backpacking,
primitive camping, rockhounding, nature study, photography,
rock climbing, spelunking and hunting are allowed. Motorized
activities, mountain biking, hang gliding and competitive
pursuits are accommodated outside wilderness.
Water
is extremely limited and critical for wildlife survival;
bring your own. Some lands are subject to private property
rights, cattle grazing, or valid mining activity. Traditionally,
dry washes have been more than adequate travel networks.
As a result, we expect that few constructed trails will
be needed in the near future.
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