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Introduction

The United States Congress designated the Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness (map) in 1994 and it now has a total of 30,562 acres. All of this wilderness is located in California and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Description

In the heart of the relatively jagged Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness, twin buttes called the Flat Tops stand out prominently. The highest point in the area, Palo Verde Peak, rises to about 1,800 feet in the southern portion. Thumb Peak, with its distinctive shape, stands to the north. A unique palm oasis, Clapp Spring, stands not far east of Thumb Peak and is worth a visit. It's the only permanent water source in the area for wildlife species, such as desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, and wild burros. Unlike most desert oases that hide in the shade of deep canyon walls, Clapp Spring bubbles up in the middle of an open landscape. Dry washes divide the slopes of the mountains, where you'll find vegetation such as ironwood, mesquite, and, of course, paloverde. In the southeastern part of the Wilderness, you can find saguaro cactuses, plants rarely seen in California.

Do you have some great photographs of the Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness? Enter your images in the Wilderness Forever Photography Contest before September 3rd for your chance to have your images displayed as part of a fall 2014 50th anniversary exhibition in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

Planning to Visit the Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness?

• Print a fact sheet
• General things to consider when visiting any wilderness
• Regulations
• Contact the Bureau of Land Management
  • El Centro Field Office

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 Palo Verde Mountains 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.