El Paso Mountains Wilderness

The El Paso Mountains Wilderness is a 23,679-acre property in central southern California. Black Mountain (5,244') is at the northwestern corner and the wilderness drops southeasterly from there into the Black Hills. The Black Hills are a motley collection of stark reddish buttes and dark volcanic mesas dissected by narrow canyons.

Interestingly, this badlands area also sports a number of prehistoric cultural sites. The southern portion of the wilderness is included in the Last Chance Archaeological District. The fossils of ancient horse- and camel-like animals have also been found in the wilderness.

The vegetation is primarily creosote bush but there is a large stand of Joshua trees on the western side of Black Mountain. The desert tortoise seems to like this kind of terrain and landscaping.