Desert Tortoise Natural Area

The Desert Tortoise Natural Area spans 39.5 square miles of terrain in the western Mojave Desert, featuring an interpretive center and natural trails.

In 1980, the Bureau of Land Management received 640 acres through the Great Western Cities Company agreement and designated it as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

Native American communities of the western deserts incorporated tortoise shells into their tools, creating artifacts that represented their connection to the land.

Visitors can explore the natural area through designated paths while maintaining distance from tortoises to prevent stress and dehydration in these animals.

Desert tortoises in this protected zone construct burrows extending up to 30 feet underground, where they spend 95 percent of their time.

Location: California

GPS coordinates: 35.17028,-117.90028

Latest update: April 16, 2025 19:59