Whipple Mountains Wilderness

Whipple Mountains Wilderness is a 76,122-acre protected area in the northeastern Colorado Desert of southeastern California, encompassing most of the Whipple Mountains near the Colorado River. Its landscape ranges from broad valley floors and washes to steep canyons, domed summits, natural bridges, and eroded spires, with pale green formations in the west and brick-red volcanic rock in the east. Whipple Mountain rises to 4,131 feet. The wilderness supports Sonoran desert habitats with creosote bush, palo verde, mesquite, cacti, desert bighorn sheep, raptors, and the threatened desert tortoise. To protect these fragile habitats, motorized and wheeled vehicles are barred from the interior, leaving hiking and horseback riding as the main ways through the range.

Bluewater, California · United States