Cadiz Dunes Wilderness

Cadiz Dunes is a protected wilderness area covering thousands of acres in the Mojave Desert with sand formations shaped by winds from the Cadiz dry lake. The terrain consists of expansive sandy surfaces continuously reshaped by wind erosion, creating an ever-changing topography.

Congress designated this section of California desert as a protected wilderness area in 1994, integrating it into the national preservation system. This protection marked the transition from other uses to a landscape preserved from commercial or mechanized activities.

The Bureau of Land Management oversees this space where visitors encounter the desert in its raw state without modern infrastructure or amenities. People who come here typically seek solitude and the feeling of moving through an untouched landscape.

Visitors should bring adequate water supplies and navigation tools, as no marked trails or facilities exist within the area. The absence of infrastructure requires careful planning and self-sufficiency for anyone exploring this location.

In spring, rare desert wildflowers bloom among the dunes, including the Borrego milkvetch, a species adapted to these harsh conditions. This brief flowering period creates a surprising color contrast against the otherwise golden sandy landscape.