The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Fifty miles west of Needles, California sits Clipper Mountain Wilderness, an area encompassing more than 33,000 acres of Mojave Desert land. Perhaps the top attraction to this wilderness is the 4,625-foot-tall Clipper Mountain, but the local landmark, Castle Dome, a rocky butte, can also be seen right on the edge of the wilderness boundary. Rock climbers particularly love the area for its landscape of mesas, mountains, small buttes, and narrow canyons. Photographers also love the area for its freshwater springs and vegetated valleys. Joshua Tree National Park is 108 miles southwest of the Clipper Mountain Wilderness, and Death Valley National Park is 287 miles to the north.
Clipper Mountain Wilderness is owned and maintained by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which works to ensure the wilderness is kept clean and safe for native wildlife. This wilderness area also borders the Mojave National Preserve, which is directly north of the Clipper Mountain Wilderness. BLM camping is allowed here, but you must choose an area that has been used before and limit your stay to no more than 14 days within a 28-day time period.
Located 79 miles northwest of Clipper Mountain Wilderness, Kelso Dunes Trail has an elevation gain of 600 feet and takes about two to three hours to complete. Visiting the dunes in the summer is not recommended because it can get up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Length: 3 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Made from cinders and ash, Amboy Crater, 61 miles northwest of Clipper Mountain Wilderness, is 250 feet high and 1,500 feet in diameter. The trail to the rim takes about an hour and 40 minutes to complete. Hikers are rewarded with the otherworldly scenery.
Length: 4.1 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Rock climbing is a popular activity in Clipper Mountain Wilderness as climbers can find clusters of volcanic mountains practically everywhere in the area. Some short rock buttes are found in the less vegetated areas as well. When rock climbing in any BLM-owned area, climbers are advised to travel in groups to avoid emergencies as the wilderness is vast and has sparse cell reception.
Many native Mojave Desert animals call Clipper Mountain Wilderness their home, including the threatened desert tortoise. A herd of about 40 to 50 bighorn sheep has been seen in this wilderness, too, and coyotes and black-tailed jackrabbits are spotted frequently. Smaller animals in the area include the Mohave ground squirrel, kangaroo rat, greater roadrunner, chukar, quail, prairie falcon, red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, rattlesnake, and zebra-tailed lizard. Spotting the landscape are several species of flora, too, like creosote bush, brittlebush, and wildflowers, especially in the valleys and near the springs.
You are permitted to picnic within Clipper Mountain Wilderness, but there are no picnic shelters or tables. Instead, you can bring your own blankets or folding chairs to sit on, and you can find a clear area with a splendid view for you to enjoy your meal. It's also important that you bring your own trash bags or containers to collect your leftovers because leaving food and trash behind is prohibited, and there are no trash bins available for you to use in this wilderness.
The Mojave Desert offers great opportunities for stargazing. In Clipper Mountain Wilderness, you are far from the light pollution of cities so you can see the dark sky clearly. Consider planning your stargazing trip ahead of time by researching the weather and the moon forecast. When the sky is clear of cloud coverage, and the moon is either dark or out of sight, you will be able to see the stars and Milky Way better.
If you are looking to go RV camping somewhere that provides amenities, you will have to travel approximately 126 miles north of Clipper Mountain Wilderness in Needles, CA on the Arizona border. Needles KOA Journey has amenities like full hookups and free Wi-Fi. Also in Needles is Desert View RV Resort, where you will find shady, private, full-hookup RV sites along with a swimming pool, laundry facilities, and restrooms.
Clipper Mountain Wilderness permits Bureau of Land Management free camping. While this wilderness does not feature organized Bureau of Land Management campgrounds, dispersed camping is permitted for up to 14 days at a time with no fees. Keep in mind, though, that RVs and other motorized vehicles are not allowed in this wilderness, so only tent and backpack camping will be possible. Camping here is also primitive, meaning there are no electrical outlets, water stations, dump stations or bathrooms. If you search for "BLM camping near me," you will find a couple of other choices, such as Bristol Mountain Wilderness, which is 79 miles northwest of Clipper Mountain Wilderness, and Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness, which is 88 miles to the southwest.
Clipper Mountain Wilderness experiences extremely hot summers with temperatures climbing up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. To beat the heat, pack lots of drinking water and supplies like sunscreen and battery-operated fans. If you are planning to stargaze in the wilderness or camp overnight, know that Mojave Desert nights are quite the opposite and will be chilly, so blankets, warm layers, and battery-powered heat sources will be necessary.
When you camp in Clipper Mountain Wilderness, you are allowed to start and maintain campfires, so consider bringing fire starters, wood, and cooking supplies as needed. You will also be responsible for packing up any trash you create and taking it with you, so have extra bags for waste on hand. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
All visitors to Clipper Mountain Wilderness will be expected to follow the BLM's Leave No Trace rules, which aim to help keep the environment clean and in a natural state. To follow these rules, avoid disturbing the wildlife, leave anything you find where it came from, and bury any human or pet waste at least 200 feet from water sources.
To reach Clipper Mountain Wilderness from Ludlow, take US Route 66 East onto Danby Road. Then travel north for 2.3 miles, and you will see a shift to a dirt road. From there, a high clearance vehicle is recommended, and the entrance of the wilderness is indicated by the intersection of the Southern California Gas Pipeline Road. Parking is not permitted here, so visitors must be dropped off.
Ready to visit Clipper Mountain Wilderness? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night, where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice, soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
