The Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness ia a 33475 acres (135.5 km²) wilderness area located 16 miles (25.7 km) northeast of Twentynine Palms, California

Twentynine Palms, California

Twentynine Palms is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It was previously called Twenty-Nine Palms...

.

Named for the dry lakes found at the center of the wilderness, this area has a variety of natural resources. The east portion is mountainous while the west portion is a vast alluvial slope or bajada. Elevations range from 1400 feet (426.7 m) at the desert floor to the rugged Bullion Mountains, which rise more than 4100 feet (1,249.7 m) across a 4 miles (6.4 km) stretch.

Wildlife include desert bighorn sheep

Bighorn Sheep

The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...

, with desert tortoise

Desert Tortoise

The desert tortoise is a species of tortoise native to the Mojave desert and Sonoran desert of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. They can be located in western Arizona, southeastern California, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah. The species name agassizii is in honor of...

 in the valley floor habitat.
Vegetation includes Barrel cactus

Barrel cactus

Barrel cacti are classified into the two genera Echinocactus and Ferocactus, both of which are found in the Southwest Desert of North America. Their pineapple-shaped fruits can be easily removed but are not recommended for eating. The barrel cactus may reach over a metre in height. Its ribs are...

 and "smoke trees

Psorothamnus spinosus

Psorothamnus spinosus, known as the Smokethorn, Smoketree, Smoke tree, Indigobush, Smokethorn dalea, and Corona de Cristo, is a perennial legume tree common to the desert washes of the southern part of California, Arizona, and most of Baja California, including islands in the northern Sea of Cortez-...

" in some washes. The Cleghorn Lakes offer occasional spring wildflower displays, and the Crucifixion Thorn (Castela

Castela

Castela is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family Simaroubaceae. Members of the genus are native to the Americas, especially the tropical regions. The generic name honours the French naturalist René Richard Louis Castel.-Selected species:...

emoryi) shrub has been found near the eastern edge of the wilderness boundary. It is native to California, Arizona and Sonora, Mexico and listed by the California Native Plant Society

California Native Plant Society

The California Native Plant Society is a California not-for-profit organization that seeks to increase understanding of California's native flora and to preserve that flora. Its "paramount purpose is to preserve wild plants".-History:...

as rare in California, but common elsewhere.