The Bigelow Cholla Garden Wilderness now contains a total of 14,645 acres and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. All of the Wilderness is in the state of California. In 1994 the Bigelow Cholla Garden Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age of “…increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization,…” you play an important role in helping to “…secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness” as called for by Congress in the Wilderness Act of 1964. Please follow the regulations in place for this area, and use Leave No Trace techniques when visiting to ensure protection of its unique natural and experiential qualities.

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply.

Leave No Trace principles:

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Regulations:
Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport are generally prohibited on all federal lands designated as wilderness. This includes the use of motor vehicles (including OHVs), motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters, unless provided for in specific legislation. In a few areas some exceptions allowing the use of motorized equipment or mechanical transport are described in the special regulations in effect for a specific area. Contact the agency for more information about regulations.

Explore Nearby

• Zmudowski State Beach — State Park in California
• Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area — State Park in California
• Tahoe National Forest — National Forest in California
• Stanislaus National Forest — National Forest in California
• Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway — Scenic Byway in California