Orocopia Mountains Wilderness

Size: 46,141 acres.

Location: Riverside County; 20 miles southeast of Indio, California (Note: Boundary set backs from roads or trails are 30 to 300 feet)

Area Description : The western boundary of the Orocopia Mountains Wilderness  contiguous with the Mecca Hills Wilderness with the exception of the - Meccacopia Jeep Trail, which bisects the two wilderness areas. The forces of nature have produced a striking landscape here where open valleys, ridges and highly colorful and dramatically eroded canyons are the result of the region's proximity to the San Andreas fault system. Deep canyons and washes cut across the entire area, exposing walls of color shaded from bright red to black. Bighorn sheep, burro deer, desert tortoise and many small upland game species live among the mountains. The spiny-leaved Orocopia sage, Alverson's foxtail cactus, Orcutt's woody aster and the Mecca aster grow unexpectedly in washes, on stony slopes and in gypsum soils.

Getting There : Interstate 10 provides access to the wilderness from the north, State Highway 195 (Box Canyon Road) from the west and the Chiriaco Summit exit south along the Red Canyon four-wheel drive trail. The Bradshaw Trail provides access from the south.

Nonfederal Lands: Private lands may lie within the wilderness area. Please respect the landowner and do not use these lands without permission.

Additional Information :

Signs indicating "Wilderness" and "Closed Road" or "Closed Route" are placed at various intervals.  Vehicles can be parked outside the wilderness boundary; however, the boundary is set back 30 feet from unmaintained dirt roads and 300 feet on paved roads.

Maps:

• Desert Access Guide:
  • Chuckwalla - # 18
     
• USGS 7.5 Quadrangle Maps:
  • East of Red Canyon
  • Hayfield
  • Hayfield Spring
  • Orocopia Canyon
  • Red Canyon

Contact:

Palm Springs Field Office

Go to BLM Wilderness List