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South McCullough Wilderness

General Location Contacts Area Management Wilderness Laws Images

Introduction

The United States Congress designated the South McCullough Wilderness (map) in 2002 and it now has a total of 44,244 acres. All of this wilderness is located in Nevada and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Description

The landform is an uplifted fault block of gneiss and granite with steep slopes and narrow canyons. Lower slopes are gently sloping alluvial deposits. Elevations range from 2,500 feet in the northwest portion of the area to 7,026 feet at McCullough Mountain. Vegetation communities include creosote desert, Joshua tree stands, and at higher elevations, pinyon-juniper woodland. Summer high temperatures at lower elevations frequently exceed 100 degrees, and in winter low temperatures regularly dip well below freezing. In the higher elevations snow is common in winter, and during summer, monsoonal thunderstorms are common. Animals of special interest include desert tortoise, bighorn sheep, and mule deer. The South McCullough Wilderness contains a surprising number of small springs, though many go dry during the summer.

There are 19 miles of hiking and equestrian trail in the wilderness. However, some of the trails are difficult to locate, especially when they enter or leave a wash. BLM is currently working to repair the trails and install trail markers where necessary. At present, the McCullough Trail is the easiest to locate. The McCullough Trail travels up and down across side ridges at the base of the McCullough Range through pinyon, juniper, Joshua trees, and blackbrush.

Planning to Visit the South McCullough Wilderness?

Leave No Trace

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply in the South McCullough Wilderness.
  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
  3. Dispose of Waste Properly
  4. Leave What You Find
  5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
  6. Respect Wildlife
  7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.