Surprise Canyon Wilderness Area - Ridgecrest, CA - Public Access Lands on Waymarking.com

24,429 acres
established 10/31/1994

Location: Inyo County; 56 miles northeast of Ridgecrest, California and 27 miles northeast of Trona, California (Note: Boundary set backs from roads or trails are 30 to 300 feet)

Getting There : Access to this wilderness is via State Highway 178 through Panamint Valley and along Ballart Road to Indian Ranch Road. Four-wheel drive routes provide access into jail, Surprise and Happy Canyons. Check road conditions before driving.

Nonfederal Lands: Private lands may lie within the wilderness area. Please respect the owner and do not use these lands without permission.

Additional Information :

Signs indicating "Wilderness" and "Closed Road" or "Closed Route" are placed at various intervals. Vehicles can be parked outside the wilderness boundary; however, the boundary is set back 30 feet from unmaintained dirt roads and 300 feet on paved roads.

Mechanized or motorized vehicles are NOT PERMITTED in a wilderness.

Hunting, fishing, and non-commercial trapping are allowed under state and local laws.

Pet are allowed, but please keep your pets under control at all times.

Horses are permitted, however you may be required to carry feed.

Removal, disturbance, or attempting to remove archaelogical materials is a felony. Selling, receiving, purchasing, transporting, exchanging or offering to do so is prohibited by law.

CAMPING: Camping is permitted, limited to 14 days. After 14 days, campers must relocate at least 25 miles from previous site.

Help BLM preserve California's fragile deserts. Please park your vehicle or set up camp in previously disturbed sites.

Gathering wood for campfires, when permitted, is limited to dead and down materials. Do not cut live vegetation.

The BLM encourages all desert recreationists and travelers exploring public lands, not only within southern California but through the west, to use propylene glycol based antifreeze/coolant in their touring and recreation vehicles. Proven safer, it will have minimal impacts on the wildlife and the environment should a leak occur.


Maps:


•Desert Access Guide:
?Darwin Hills

•USGS 7.5 Quadrangle Maps:
?Ballart
?Jail Canyon
?Maturango Peak Northeast
?Panamint
?Telescope Peak

(visit link)

Estimated size of the public land (in regional measurement standard: hectares, acres, kms, etc.): 24,433 Is there a trail system?: No What points of interest are there?: Desert Valley, Mountain Range What activities are available?: Horseback riding, Offroading, Hiking List of known hazards (cliffs, snakes, poison plants, etc.): falling rocks, desert conditions, snakes Dogs Allowed?: Yes Is a permit/fee required?: No Please supply the website of the land if available: [Web Link] If there is a trail system, please describe length, terrain, etc.: Not listed Hours of accessibility?: Not listed If a permit/fee is required please describe in detail how to get one, how much, etc.: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Visitors are encouraged to supply a picture of either themselves or their GPS at the trailhead and/or signage of the public access lands - describe your experience there and what you saw - tell us why other folks should come visit!

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   02/16/2011 ChapterhouseInc visited it