Chimney Peak Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Chimney Peak Wilderness is a 13134 acres (53.2 km²) wilderness area located 20 miles (32.2 km) northwest of Ridgecrest
, in southeastern Tulare County, California
. The 1994 California Desert Protection Act (Public Law
103-433) created the wilderness and it is managed by the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM), Department of the Interior.
The Chimney Peak Wilderness is a rugged and mountainous desert environment on the eastern side of the southern Sierra Nevada Range
. The wilderness is named for Chimney Peak, elevation 7871 feet (2,399.1 m), located in the northeast corner of the wilderness. The area has desert plants of Joshua tree and creosote bush on the valley floors and in foothills, canyons and on the alluvial fans. Higher elevations have pinyon pine
.
A portion of the Sacatar Trail, an old wagon road into the Owens Valley
once used by soldiers and cattlemen, cross the Chimney Peak Wilderness as does the Pacific Crest Trail
.
Recreational activities include hiking, horseback riding, fishing and camping/backpacking. No motorized vehicles or mechanical equipment is allowed within a wilderness area.
The BLM began a "byway" program in 1989 which is a tour by automobile through or near scenic public lands. This program designates "backcountry byways" along secondary roads. The Chimney Peak Backcountry Byway can be accessed from State Route 178, is over 38 miles (61.2 km) in length and travels through Lamont Meadow, circles around Chimney Peak and returns to Canebrake Road at Lamont Meadow.
Ridgecrest, California
Ridgecrest, formerly known as Crumville, was incorporated as a city in 1913. It is located in the Indian Wells Valley in northeastern Kern County, California, adjacent to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake . Ridgecrest is the only incorporated city along US 395 in Kern County...
, in southeastern Tulare County, California
Tulare County, California
Tulare County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Fresno. Sequoia National Park is located in the county, as are part of Kings Canyon National Park, in its northeast corner , and part of Mount Whitney, on its eastern border...
. The 1994 California Desert Protection Act (Public Law
Public law
Public law is a theory of law governing the relationship between individuals and the state. Under this theory, constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law are sub-divisions of public law...
103-433) created the wilderness and it is managed by the Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
(BLM), Department of the Interior.
The Chimney Peak Wilderness is a rugged and mountainous desert environment on the eastern side of the southern Sierra Nevada Range
Sierra Nevada (US)
The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range in the U.S. states of California and Nevada, between the California Central Valley and the Basin and Range Province. The Sierra runs north-to-south, and is approximately across east-to-west...
. The wilderness is named for Chimney Peak, elevation 7871 feet (2,399.1 m), located in the northeast corner of the wilderness. The area has desert plants of Joshua tree and creosote bush on the valley floors and in foothills, canyons and on the alluvial fans. Higher elevations have pinyon pine
Pinyon pine
The pinyon pine group grows in the southwestern United States and in Mexico. The trees yield edible pinyon nuts, which were a staple of the Native Americans, and are still widely eaten...
.
A portion of the Sacatar Trail, an old wagon road into the Owens Valley
Owens Valley
Owens Valley is the arid valley of the Owens River in eastern California in the United States, to the east of the Sierra Nevada and west of the White Mountains and Inyo Mountains on the west edge of the Great Basin section...
once used by soldiers and cattlemen, cross the Chimney Peak Wilderness as does the Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
.
Recreational activities include hiking, horseback riding, fishing and camping/backpacking. No motorized vehicles or mechanical equipment is allowed within a wilderness area.
The BLM began a "byway" program in 1989 which is a tour by automobile through or near scenic public lands. This program designates "backcountry byways" along secondary roads. The Chimney Peak Backcountry Byway can be accessed from State Route 178, is over 38 miles (61.2 km) in length and travels through Lamont Meadow, circles around Chimney Peak and returns to Canebrake Road at Lamont Meadow.