About North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness
The North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness consists of the broad western end of Sandy Valley and the northern portion of Mesquite Mountains. Rolling brown foothills, a few steeper mountains, and medium sized buttes comprise the reddish-brown geologic features in the wilderness. Dominant vegetation includes creosote brush scrub, blackbush, Joshua tree woodland, yucca, cacti, and some grasses. Wildlife is also typical for the Mojave Desert. Due to the lack of naturalwaters, bighorn sheep do not inhabit the area on a permanent basis but do transverse the area. The southern tip of the wilderness provides critical habitat for the desert tortoise. The wilderness is located in the northeastern portion of the sector and consists of 28,955 acres.
How to Get There
From Needles, CA, take I-40 west approx. 10 miles to the U.S. Highway 95 north exit. Exit north and take U.S. Highway 95 approx. 45 miles to NV State Route 164 (Searchlight, NV). Turn left on SR 164 and drive approx. 20 miles to the CA/NV state line. The road turns into Nipton Road. Drive on Nipton Road approx. 15 miles to I-15. Take I-15 west approx. 15 miles to Cima Road. Turn right at the Cime Road exit and take Excelsior Mine/Kingston Road north approx. 12 miles. A wilderness kiosk sign will be on your right hand side.
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness
Heading to North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness?
No central reservation system listed for North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/recarea/14845) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness?
From Needles, CA, take I-40 west approx. 10 miles to the U.S. Highway 95 north exit. Exit north and take U.S. Highway 95 approx. 45 miles to NV State Route 164 (Searchlight, NV). Turn left on SR 164 and drive approx. 20 miles to the CA/NV state line. The road turns into Nipton Road. Drive on Nipton Road approx. 15 miles to I-15. Take I-15 west approx. 15 miles to Cima Road. Turn right at the Cime …
How do I contact North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness?
You can reach the park at phone: 760-326-7000 or email: BLM_CA_Web_NE@blm.gov.
References & Official Resources
