| Clipper Mountain Wilderness | |
|---|---|
| Location | Mojave Trails National Monument, San Bernardino County, California |
| Nearest city | Essex, California |
| Coordinates | 34°44′17″N115°25′03″W / 34.73805°N 115.41759°W /34.73805; -115.41759 |
| Area | 33,843 acres (13,696 ha) |
| Governing body | U.S. Bureau of Land Management |
TheClipper Mountain Wilderness is a wilderness area in theClipper Mountains of the easternMojave Desert and withinMojave Trails National Monument, located in northeasternSan Bernardino County, California.[1][2] It is under the jurisdiction of theBureau of Land Management.[1]
The 33,843-acre (13,696 ha) Clipper Mountain Wilderness is found mostly on the northern section of theClipper Mountains, which are adjacent on the north toInterstate 40 and historicU.S. Route 66. The wilderness area is adjoining the southernNational Park ServiceMojave National Preserve. It is 50 miles west ofNeedles, California.[3]
The Clipper Mountain Wilderness has rugged yellow and dark brown, horizontally stripedmesas, narrowcanyons withsprings, and sparsely vegetatedalluvial fans. The small cluster of volcanic mountains is oriented northeast to southwest. In the center, the most prominent ridge, Clipper Mountain, reaches an elevation of 4,625 feet before it dramatically drops off in series of sharp cliffs overlooking the Fenner andClipper Valleys.Castle Dome, a local landmark, can be clearly seen from Historic Route 66.[1]

Theplant community vegetation types here are predominantlyCreosote bush (Larrea tridentata)xeric desert scrub anddesert wash scrubhabitats. In the spring, thealluvial fans turn yellow withBrittlebush -Encelia farinosa and other desertwildflowers.[1]
Wildlife in the wilderness area is typical for the Mojave Desert; including a herd of 40-50desert bighorn sheep,coyotes,black-tailed jackrabbits,Mohave ground squirrels,kangaroo rats,greater roadrunners,chukar,quail,prairie falcons,red-tailed hawks,golden eagles,rattlesnakes, and several species of lizards including thezebra-tailed lizard. The entire wilderness is considered critical habitat for the threateneddesert tortoise.[1]
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