Wilderness area

Palen/McCoy Wilderness

Palen/McCoy Wilderness is a 236,488-acre wilderness area in Riverside County, California. It rises from about 393 to 4,339 ft. The nearest town is Mesa Verde, 10.5 miles away in a straight line.

Palen/McCoy Wilderness map

Palen/McCoy 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

Camping in Palen/McCoy Wilderness is limited to 14 days.
Mesa Verde, CA is the nearest town, 10.5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
The highest ground in Palen/McCoy Wilderness is about 4,339 ft, and its lowest about 393 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model).

Who manages Palen/McCoy Wilderness

Agency Acres Permit Group size Stay limit Office
BLM 236,488 Not on record Not on record 14 days Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, 760-833-7100

Getting to Palen/McCoy Wilderness

  • Mesa Verde, CA is the nearest town, 10.5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)

Named summits, canyons, and springs in Palen/McCoy Wilderness

  • McCoy Spring spring
  • Tank Spring spring

Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-29.

Public lands next to Palen/McCoy 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