Mecca Hills Wilderness
Thanks to the restless San Andreas Fault, the geologic formations of Mecca Hills Wilderness are among the most unusual sites of their kind in the world. Entire regions are exposed layers of eroded rock...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 26,356 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.6164, -115.9803 |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 31) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 2 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 6.8 miMartinez Historical District ↗Torres-Martinez Indian Reservation, CA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Mecca Hills Wilderness?
26,356 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Mecca Hills Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Mecca Hills Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Mecca Hills Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Mecca Hills Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Cottonwood Campground, 9.4 miles out. 2 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Mecca Hills Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.616, -115.980. Joshua Tree National Park is 19 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How dark is the night sky at Mecca Hills Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 31 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Which national parks are near Mecca Hills Wilderness?
Joshua Tree National Park (19 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Mecca Hills Wilderness?
1 National Register listing within 15 miles, including Martinez Historical District.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.