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The East Mojave National Scenic Area was established in 1980. It's a vast piece of land shaped roughly like a wedge of pie, covering most of the ground from the California-Nevada state line west almost to Barstow and between Interstates 15 and 40. In 1994, the California Desert Protection Act altered the status of the area's 1.6 million acres to the Mojave National Preserve and designated slightly less than one half the land as Wilderness.
Here is a meeting place for the Mojave, Sonoran, and Great Basin deserts, where you'll see strange volcanic features: cinder cones and dramatic lava beds, saw-toothed mountains rising in at least seven named ranges, flat-topped mesas, towering sand dunes, dry lake beds, and unique plant communities including the largest Joshua tree forest in the world. Most of the wildlife sensibly remains hidden during the daylight hours, but you may spot bighorn sheep, mule deer, bobcats, and cougars in the rugged mountains, and rabbits, coyotes, foxes, ground squirrels, pack rats, desert tortoises, lizards, and snakes in the washes and canyons. Raptors soar throughout the park. Much of this area is a desert wonderland, seldom visited by humans, and most of it is amenable to foot travel if you carry maps and plenty of water.
Maps
Digital and paper maps are critical tools for wilderness visitors. Online maps can help you plan and prepare for your visit ahead of time. You can also carry digital maps with you on your GPS unit or other handheld GPS device. Having a paper map with you in the backcountry, as well as solid orienteering skills, however, ensures that you can still route-find in the event that your electronic device fails.
Online Maps
Printed Maps
Rules & Regulations
Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport is generally prohibited in all wilderness areas.
This includes the use of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters.
Wilderness-Specific Regulations
Learn more about
why regulations may be necessary in wilderness.
Applicable Wilderness Law(s)
Date: October 31, 1994
Acreage: 695,000 acres
California Desert Protection Act of 1994 - Public Law 103-433 (10/31/1994) "California Desert Protection Act of 1994" An Act to designate certain lands in the California Desert as wilderness, to establish the Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks, to establish the Mojave National Preserve, and for other purposes.
For more information (To download or see all affected Wilderness areas) visit our law library for 103-433 or special provisions for 103-433 or legislative history for 103-433 for this law.
Want to Volunteer for Wilderness?
People who volunteer their time to steward our wilderness areas are an essential part of wilderness management. Contact the following groups to inquire about volunteer opportunities. Groups are listed alphabetically by the state(s) in which the wilderness is located.