Warm Springs Wilderness, Desert wilderness area in Mohave County, Arizona, United States.
Warm Springs Wilderness covers the whole of Black Mesa, a 10-mile (16 km) stretch of the southern Black Mountains in Mohave County, Arizona, rising to about 3,600 feet (1,097 m). A central wash flowing southwest bisects the mesa and drains toward the Sacramento Wash and Topock Marsh on the Colorado River. Boundary Cone, a volcanic plug, stands on the northwest border 4 miles south of Oatman.
The Black Mesa and its surrounding foothills, washes and valleys were designated the Warm Springs Wilderness in 1990 under the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act, protecting 112,400 acres (45,500 ha) of the southern Black Mountains in Mohave County. The area lies within the Lower Colorado River Valley wilderness system, with the Mount Nutt Wilderness adjacent to the north across Sitgreaves Pass.
The springs sit around the mesa's perimeter and run highest after wet winters or heavy summer monsoon rain, so their flow varies by season. The desert bighorn sheep is the area's main large animal, and hikers sometimes find its tracks near these seeps.
The area is challenging to access and requires sturdy vehicles or extended hikes to explore. Visitors should prepare for hot, dry weather and bring plenty of water.
The springs that give the area its name sit around the mesa's perimeter and run highest after wet winters or heavy summer monsoon rain. Boundary Cone, a volcanic plug about 4 miles south of Oatman, marks the northwest border as a landmark visible across Mohave Valley.
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