| El Paso Mountains Wilderness | |
|---|---|
El Paso Mountains | |
| Location | Kern County, California, United States |
| Nearest city | Ridgecrest, CA |
| Coordinates | 35°28′N117°50′W / 35.467°N 117.833°W /35.467; -117.833 |
| Area | 23,780 acres (96.2 km2) |
| Established | October 31, 1994 |
| Governing body | U.S.Bureau of Land Management |
TheEl Paso Mountains Wilderness was created in 1994 and now has a total of 23,780 acres (96.2 km2). All of the wilderness is in the northernMojave Desert in easternKern County, California and is managed by theBureau of Land Management. It is located south ofRidgecrest, California.
The wilderness contains numerous reddish-coloredbuttes and dark, uplifted volcanicmesas dissected by narrow canyons. The highest point and central feature of this wilderness is Black Mountain, 5,244 feet (1,598 m), an extinct volcano. Surrounding the mountain is abadlandstopography.
The most spectacular attribute of this area is the abundance of cultural sites. The southern portion of the wilderness is included in theLast Chance Archaeological District and is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places. Wildlife includesraptors,Mohave ground squirrel, and thedesert tortoise. Vegetation primarily consists ofcreosote bush scrub community withJoshua trees on the western side of the mountain.

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