Introduction
The United States Congress designated the Pahrump Valley Wilderness (
map) in 1994 and it now has a total of
73,724 acres.
All of this wilderness is located in
California and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Description
The Pahrump Valley in the north, the Mesquite Valley in the southeast, and the California Valley in the west join forces in this desolate, seldom-visited Wilderness. Alluvial slopes in all three valleys ascend gradually southward into the northern Kingston Range, which also lies within the Wilderness. In the mountains, you'll find a rugged piece of earth with many canyons, winding washes, and bajadas. Elevations range from 2,720 feet on a valley floor to 4,569 feet on a mountain summit. The three dry valleys are dotted with desert shrubs and yucca. Wild burros are protected here, and you'll probably see a few of them, along with desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, and golden eagles. An old four-wheel-drive track crosses the area from northwest to southeast, and a long waterless way it is. The northeastern border is the Nevada state line.
