Clipper Mountain Wilderness Area

Clipper Mountain Wilderness Area encompasses 35,687 acres of federally protected backcountry in California, managed by the Bureau of Land Management as a non-motorized wilderness zone. The landscape is primitive desert and semi-arid terrain, offering solitude and untrammeled backcountry experience for visitors seeking to escape developed areas.

Hiking and backpacking are the primary pursuits here. There are no roads, motorized vehicles, or mechanized travel allowed—the wilderness is accessible only on foot or horseback. This designation ensures a quiet, undeveloped setting where Leave No Trace principles are both expected and essential to preserving the resource.

Access requires planning: there are no visitor facilities, developed trailheads, or paved approaches within the wilderness boundary. Most visitors approach from surrounding public lands or private access points. Spring and fall typically offer the most comfortable conditions, though desert conditions can be extreme in summer and winter. Come prepared with water, navigation tools, and self-sufficiency; this is true backcountry.