| Clipper Mountains | |
|---|---|
  Location of the Clipper Mountains in California [1] | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Clipper Mountain |
| Elevation | 4,625 ft (1,410 m) |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| District | San Bernardino County |
| Range coordinates | 34°45′15″N115°24′59″W / 34.75417°N 115.41639°W |
| Topo map | USGS West of Blind Hills |
The Clipper Mountains are located in the eastern Mojave Desert and protected within Mojave Trails National Monument, in San Bernardino County, California.
The range parallels and is just south of Interstate 40 and the Clipper Valley, between the freeway and the National Old Trails Highway - U.S. Route 66.
The Clipper Mountains are southeast of the Granite Mountains and Providence Mountains, north of the Old Woman Mountains, and west of the Sacramento Mountains. They are northwest of the small communities of Essex and Goffs. [2]
The range is home to at least three natural springs, and the 'Tom Reed Mine.'
The Clipper Mountain Wilderness is on the northern slopes of the range, and also within Mojave Trails National Monument. [3] It includes rugged yellow and dark brown, horizontally striped mesas; narrow canyons with hidden springs; and sparsely vegetated alluvial fans. This small cluster of volcanic mountains is oriented northeast to southwest. [4] In the center, the most prominent ridge, Clipper Mountain, reaches an elevation of 4,625 feet (1,410 m) before it dramatically drops off in a series of sharp cliffs overlooking the Fenner and Clipper Valleys. Castle Dome, a local landmark, can be clearly seen from Historic Route 66 to the south and east.
The vegetation types are predominantly xeric desert scrub, with creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), and desert wash scrub. In the spring, the alluvial fans turn yellow with brittlebush flowers (Encelia farinosa), as well as wildflowers.
Wildlife includes a herd of 40-50 desert bighorn sheep, coyote, roadrunners, chucker, quail, prairie falcons, red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, ground squirrels, kangaroo rats, black-tailed jackrabbits, rattlesnakes, and several species of lizards. The entire wilderness is considered critical habitat for the threatened desert tortoise. [5]
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Clipper Valley is a vast, oval-shaped alluvial plain located in the eastern Mojave Desert, in San Bernardino County, California, in the south of the Mojave National Preserve. Interstate 40 passes the valley along its southern border, and Needles, California and the Colorado River are to the east.
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The Piper Mountain Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area located in the White Mountains 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Big Pine, California in Inyo County, California.
The Sylvania Mountains Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area located 30 miles (48 km) east of Bishop in the state of California. The wilderness is 18,677acres in size and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The California Desert Protection Act of 1994 created the Sylvania Mountains Wilderness and was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System. The wilderness is bordered by Nevada stateline on the east, Piper Mountain Wilderness on the west and Death Valley National Park to the south.
The Calumet Mountains are a mountain range in San Bernardino County, California. They are north of Joshua Tree National Park and adjacent to the Sheep Hole Mountains in the Mojave Desert. The highest point is 829 meters.
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The Stateline Wilderness is a wilderness area located in San Bernardino County, California, approximately three miles northwest of Primm, Nevada and I-15. Having an area of approximately 7,004 acres (2,834 ha), it contains the eastern terminus of the 15-mile-long (24 km) Clark Mountain Range.
The Clipper Mountain Wilderness is a wilderness area in the Clipper Mountains of the eastern Mojave Desert and within Mojave Trails National Monument, located in northeastern San Bernardino County, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management.
Mojave Trails National Monument is a large U.S. National Monument located in the state of California between Interstates 15 and 40. It partially surrounds the Mojave National Preserve. It was designated by President Barack Obama on February 12, 2016, along with Castle Mountains National Monument and Sand to Snow National Monument, also in southern California. It is under the administration of the Bureau of Land Management.
Sand to Snow National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located in San Bernardino County and northern Riverside County, Southern California.