Bristol Mountains Wilderness
Bristol Mountains Wilderness is a 71,389-acre wilderness area in San Bernardino County, California. It rises from about 1,438 to 3,899 ft. The nearest town is Baker, 31.7 miles away in a straight line.
Bristol Mountains Wilderness map
Bristol Mountains Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
Common questions
- Camping in Bristol Mountains Wilderness is limited to 14 days.
- Baker, CA is the nearest town, 31.7 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). The wilderness.net page for this area places it about 2 miles northeast of Ludlow.
- The highest ground in Bristol Mountains Wilderness is about 3,899 ft, and its lowest about 1,438 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model).
Who manages Bristol Mountains Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLM | 71,389 | Not on record | Not on record | 14 days | Needles Field Office, 760-326-7000 |
Getting to Bristol Mountains Wilderness
- Baker, CA is the nearest town, 31.7 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
- The wilderness.net page for this area places it about 2 miles northeast of Ludlow.
Position, roads and vehicle notes: wilderness.net page for Bristol Mountains Wilderness, accessed 2026-09-29. Roads and conditions change; check with the managing office before driving in.
Public lands next to Bristol Mountains Wilderness
- National Park Service unitBristol Mountains Wilderness borders Mojave National Preserve.
- BLM unitBristol Mountains Wilderness borders Mojave Trails National Monument.
- Wilderness areaBristol Mountains Wilderness borders Mojave Wilderness.
- Wilderness areaKelso Dunes Wilderness is 0.2 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in California
- https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=82 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n35w117/USGS_1_n35w117.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n35w116/USGS_1_n35w116.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2025_Gazetteer/2025_gaz_place_06.txt (accessed 2026-09-29)