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Surprise Canyon Wilderness Area: Backpacker has view of distant mountains framed in a valley

Surprise Canyon Wilderness

Map
Legal Description
7.5 Topo Map 1, 2, 3, 4
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

Size: 24,433 acres. Surprise Canyon

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)

Area Description :

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

Contact:

Ridgecrest Field Office

California Desert District

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Last updated: 01-26-2011