Old Woman Mountains Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in Mojave Desert, California, US
The Old Woman Mountains are a protected wilderness area in the Mojave Desert spanning more than 160,000 acres of granite-based terrain. The landscape ranges from shallow desert washes to steep ridgelines with multiple peaks throughout the region.
The area became an official protected wilderness in 1994 when Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act. Since then, the Bureau of Land Management has managed it for conservation and public access purposes.
The granite peak takes its name from a rock formation that indigenous and local populations saw as resembling an elderly woman's profile. This natural landmark still shapes how people experience and understand the mountain range today.
Bring plenty of water and navigation tools when exploring this remote desert terrain far from any facilities or services. Summer heat regularly exceeds 120 degrees Fahrenheit, so early morning and late afternoon travel is safer and more comfortable.
Scientists discovered California's largest meteorite within these mountains in 1975, a remarkable find for the region. The meteorite is now housed at the Desert Information Center in Barstow for public viewing.
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