Darwin Falls Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Darwin Falls Wilderness is a wilderness area in the northern Mojave Desert
, and part of the National Wilderness Preservation System
established by the California Desert Protection Act (Public Law 103-433) and managed by the Bureau of Land Management
. The Darwin Falls Wilderness Area was established on October 31, 1994 with a total of 8176 acres (33 km²).
. While the Darwin Plateau and Darwin Hills
form the landscape of the wilderness, the actual Darwin Falls
are located in and under the administration of Death Valley National Park. The Wilderness Area is near the Inyo Mountains
and the Argus Range
, west of the Panamint Range
.
The Darwin Falls Wilderness, falls and town are all named after Dr. Darwin French
, a local rancher, miner and explorer.
. Access to this wilderness is via State Route 190
through Panamint Valley approximately 30 miles east of Olancha and along the road into Darwin or down the Darwin Canyon Road. The primary access point is Darwin Canyon Road halfway between Darwin and Olancha, California
.
Protected areas of the Mojave Desert
North American desert flora
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
, and part of the National Wilderness Preservation System
National Wilderness Preservation System
The National Wilderness Preservation System of the United States protects federally managed land areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. It was established by the Wilderness Act upon the signature of President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964...
established by the California Desert Protection Act (Public Law 103-433) and 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...
. The Darwin Falls Wilderness Area was established on October 31, 1994 with a total of 8176 acres (33 km²).
Geography
The wilderness abuts the much larger and famous Death Valley National ParkDeath Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park is a national park in the U.S. states of California and Nevada located east of the Sierra Nevada in the arid Great Basin of the United States. The park protects the northwest corner of the Mojave Desert and contains a diverse desert environment of salt-flats, sand dunes,...
. While the Darwin Plateau and Darwin Hills
Darwin Hills
The Darwin Hills are a mountain range in Inyo County, California, situated near the Argus Range, Panamint Range, and Inyo Mountains. Darwin Falls and the Darwin Falls Wilderness are located in the Darwin Hills. They were named after Dr. Darwin French, a local rancher, miner and explorer...
form the landscape of the wilderness, the actual Darwin Falls
Darwin Falls
Darwin Falls is a waterfall located on the western edge of Death Valley National Park near the settlement of Panamint Springs, California. Although there exists a similarly named Darwin Falls Wilderness adjacent to the falls, the falls themselves are located in and administered by Death Valley...
are located in and under the administration of Death Valley National Park. The Wilderness Area is near the Inyo Mountains
Inyo Mountains
The Inyo Mountains are a short mountain range east of the Sierra Nevada mountains in eastern California in the United States. The range separates the Owens Valley to the west with Saline Valley to the east, extending for approximately 70 mi SSE from the southern end of the White Mountains,...
and the Argus Range
Argus Range
The Argus Range is a mountain range located in Inyo County, California, southeast of the town of Darwin, between the Coso Range and the Panamint Valley, with the Panamint Range to the east .-Geography:The range contains Maturango Peak, at above sea level...
, west of the Panamint Range
Panamint Range
The Panamint Range is a short rugged fault-block mountain range on the northern edge of the Mojave Desert, in Death Valley National Park, Inyo County, California, United States.-Geography:...
.
The Darwin Falls Wilderness, falls and town are all named after Dr. Darwin French
Darwin French
Doctor Erasmus Darwin French was an American man of adventure. He was born in 1822 in New York State, trained as a doctor and then enlisted in the army, later becaming a silver prospector. He married Miss Cornelia S. Cowles, daughter of Judge Cowles of San Diego in 1858. They had two sons Alfred...
, a local rancher, miner and explorer.
Access
The nearest settlement is the community of Darwin, CaliforniaDarwin, California
Darwin is a census-designated place in Inyo County, California, United States. Darwin is located southeast of Keeler, at an elevation of 4790 feet . The population was 43 at the 2010 census, down from 54 at the 2000 census. It is named after Dr...
. Access to this wilderness is via State Route 190
California State Route 190
State Route 190 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that is split into two parts by the Sierra Nevada. The western portion of begins at Tipton at a junction with State Route 99 and heads east towards Porterville before ending at Quaking Aspen in the Sequoia National Forest...
through Panamint Valley approximately 30 miles east of Olancha and along the road into Darwin or down the Darwin Canyon Road. The primary access point is Darwin Canyon Road halfway between Darwin and Olancha, California
Olancha, California
Olancha is a census-designated place in Inyo County of the U.S. state of California. Olancha is located on U.S. Route 395 in California, south-southeast of Independence, at an elevation of 3658 feet...
.
See also
- Darwin FallsDarwin FallsDarwin Falls is a waterfall located on the western edge of Death Valley National Park near the settlement of Panamint Springs, California. Although there exists a similarly named Darwin Falls Wilderness adjacent to the falls, the falls themselves are located in and administered by Death Valley...
Protected areas of the Mojave Desert
North American desert flora