U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
California

Riverside Mountains Wilderness

Size: 24,029 acres. Riverside Mountains

Location: Riverside County; 10 miles north of Blythe, California (Note: Boundary set backs from roads or trails are 30 to 300 feet)

Area Description : The Colorado River parallels this wilderness on its eastern edge. The landscape varies from gently sloping bajadas to steep, rugged interiors. Washes emerging from canyons divide the bajadas below. Numerous peaks in the Riverside Mountains give this small range a rough, craggy appearance. The foxtail cactus and California barrel cactus, two sensitive plant species, decorate this wilderness. A small herd of burro deer live among the Riverside range.

Getting There : State Highway 95 provides access to the wilderness from the east, which is only accessible by four-wheel drive vehicles.

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.

Mechanized or motorized vehicles are NOT PERMITTED in a wilderness.

Hunting, fishing, and non-commercial trapping are allowed under state and local laws.

Pet are allowed, but please keep your pets under control at all times.

Horses are permitted, however you may be required to carry feed.

Removal, disturbance, or attempting to remove archaelogical materials is a felony. Selling, receiving, purchasing, transporting, exchanging or offering to do so is prohibited by law.

CAMPING: Camping is permitted, limited to 14 days. After 14 days, campers must relocate at least 25 miles from previous site.

Help BLM preserve California's fragile deserts. Please park your vehicle or set up camp in previously disturbed sites.

Gathering wood for campfires, when permitted, is limited to dead and down materials. Do not cut live vegetation.

The BLM encourages all desert recreationists and travelers exploring public lands, not only within southern California but through the west, to use propylene glycol based antifreeze/coolant in their touring and recreation vehicles. Proven safer, it will have minimal impacts on the wildlife and the environment should a leak occur.

Maps:

Desert Access Guide:

Parker/Blythe - #16

USGS 7.5 Quadrangle Maps:

Big Maria Mountains North East
Big Maria Mountains North West
Parker South East
Vidal

Contact:

Palm Springs Field Office

California Desert District

Go to BLM Wilderness List

Please send comments to:
Paul Brink, California Wilderness Coordinator
pbrink@ca.blm.gov