Introduction
The United States Congress designated the Manly Peak Wilderness (
map) in 1994 and it now has a total of
12,895 acres.
All of this wilderness is located in
California and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
The Manly Peak Wilderness is bordered by
the
Death Valley Wilderness to the east.
Description
Quietly isolated, Manly Peak stands at 7,196 feet on the boundary between Death Valley National Park and Manly Peak Wilderness. The Wilderness is comprised entirely of jagged ridges and deep canyons within the Panamint Mountains. Vegetation alters as you gain elevation from around 1,100 feet, where creosote bush scrub dominates, to the higher elevations, where piñon and juniper woodlands reign. The demanding terrain features rapid elevation changes, and the easiest approaches to the summit of Manly Peak are along the ridges to the northeast and east. Streams that flow from springs in the larger canyons feed a riparian habitat of cottonwoods and desert willows, and provide water for wildlife including a herd of desert bighorn sheep. As you explore the area, you'll find some evidence of long-abandoned mining operations.
