Wilderness area

Dead Mountains Wilderness

Dead Mountains Wilderness is a 47,158-acre wilderness area in San Bernardino County, California. It rises from about 509 to 3,588 ft. The nearest town is Willow Valley, 2 miles away in a straight line.

Dead Mountains Wilderness
Photo: blmcalifornia, Public domain

Dead Mountains Wilderness map

Dead Mountains Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.

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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

Willow Valley, AZ is the nearest town, 2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). The wilderness.net page for this area places it about 12 miles north of Needles.
The highest ground in Dead Mountains Wilderness is about 3,588 ft, and its lowest about 509 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Mount Manchester, about 3,588 ft.

Who manages Dead Mountains Wilderness

Agency Acres Permit Group size Stay limit Office
BLM 47,158 Not on record Not on record Not on record Lake Havasu Field Office, 928-505-1200

Getting to Dead Mountains Wilderness

  • Willow Valley, AZ is the nearest town, 2 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 12 miles north of Needles.
  • Access roads named on the area's wilderness.net page: US Highway 95, Laughlin Road.

Position, roads and vehicle notes: wilderness.net page for Dead Mountains Wilderness, accessed 2026-09-29. Roads and conditions change; check with the managing office before driving in.

Named summits, canyons, and springs in Dead Mountains Wilderness

  • Mount Manchester summit about 3,588 ft
  • Red Spring spring

Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-29. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.

Public lands next to Dead Mountains Wilderness

Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.

Other wilderness areas in California

California wilderness areas