The Big Maria Mountains are just north of Blythe, California and run parallel to the Colorado River. From the high point of the range, you might think you could throw a rock and hit Arizona. Two Wildernesses protect the range: the Big Maria Mountains Wilderness and the Rice Valley Wilderness. I enjoyed some socially-distanced time in the Big Maria Mountain Wilderness at the end of 2020–a peaceful end to a very crazy year.
Continue reading “Big Maria Mountains Wilderness”Joshua Tree Wilderness
The Joshua Tree Wilderness is probably the best known (and most accessible) of Riverside County’s wilderness areas. Joshua Tree National Monument was designated in 1936, and it became a national park in 1994, when the California Desert Protection Act (CDPA) was passed. Several laws have added to the Joshua Tree Wilderness, which today comprises about 85% of Joshua Tree National Park; the the entire wilderness is managed by the National Park Service. Continue reading “Joshua Tree Wilderness”