Darwin Falls Wilderness
Introduction
The United States Congress designated the Darwin Falls Wilderness (
map) in 1994 and it now has a total of
8,190 acres.
All of this wilderness is located in
California and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
The Darwin Falls Wilderness is bordered by
the
Death Valley Wilderness to the east.
Description
Carved into numerous shallow depressions and canyons and holding a variety of stark volcanic rock faces, the Darwin Plateau stands guard in the northern portion of this Wilderness. In the south, Darwin Falls spills down spectacular Darwin Canyon. Lined with willows and cottonwoods, the water rises to the surface from a permanent spring outside the northeast Wilderness boundary inside Death Valley National Park. A creosote bush community dominates much of the landscape, giving way to Joshua tree woodlands higher in the hills. Among other desert wildlife, prairie falcons are often spotted. Two springs on the eastern boundary supply additional water.
