Wee Thump Joshua Tree

Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/nevada https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wee_Thump_Joshua_Tree_Wilderness,_Nevada The Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness is a designated (2002) wilderness area in Nevada. It comprises 6,050 acres (2,450 ha) and has an expanse of old-growth Joshua tree forest. "Wee Thump" means "ancient ones" in the language of the Paiute people. This BLM wilderness is only a few miles west of Searchlight, Nevada, and is east of the small outpost of Nipton, California, and south of the Las Vegas metro area. Its topography is relatively flat, and its borders form a rough triangle and has Nevada State Highway 164/Joshua Tree Highway to its southern limits. Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness can have spectacular flower blooms in the spring and is an area for bird watchers.

Bureau of Land Management Photo Credit: Sendi Kalcic Southern Nevada District Office 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive Las Vegas, NV 89103 http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo.1.html Size: 6,050 acres Elevation Range: 4,000 - 5,000 feet Designation: Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002 BLM Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness Area Description The Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness, west of Searchlight, Nevada, is relatively small for a designated wilderness, at just 6,050 acres. But what it may lack in size, it more than makes up for in stunning natural history. The name Wee Thump, or “ancient ones” in the Paiute language, tells the story of these Joshua trees. Growing just half an inch per year on average, the stand is home to some of the oldest and largest Joshua trees on the planet. These ancient ones have grown tall in the silence of the desert, some rising to more than 30 feet over 900 years. Photo Credit: Sendi Kalcic Visitors can also find blackbrush, Mojave yucca, buckhorn cholla, creosote bush, white bursage, banana yucca, bunch grass, matted cholla, and prickly pear cactus throughout the wilderness. Birdwatchers will spot-gilded flicker (known to occur in Nevada only in this location), northern flicker, ladder-backed woodpecker, black-throated sparrow, red-tailed hawk, crissal thrasher, golden eagle, loggerhead shrike, and cactus wren. Other wildlife roaming this wilderness include desert tortoise, big horn sheep, coyote, desert cottontail, black-tailed jackrabbit, valley pocket gopher and desert wood rat. Directions The Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness is located between Searchlight, Nevada and Nipton, California. The wilderness sits just north of State Highway 164, which provides access to the southern border of the wilderness, and is flanked to the west by the South McCullough Range and to the east by the Highland Range. Wee Thump East Road leads north from State Highway 164, providing access to the eastern border of the wilderness. Five miles west of Wee Thump East Road down State Highway 164, Wee Thump West Road leads north, providing access to the western border of the wilderness. Recreation Motorized vehicles, mechanized equipment, and mechanical transport are not permitted in designated wilderness. Maps USGS 7.5 Quadrangle Maps: McCullough Mountain, Highland Spring. Additional Information • Please limit group sized to 12 members. • Maximum length of stay: 14 days • Fires are not allowed, though camp stoves can be used. • Collection of natural resources, including wildlife (with the exception of hunting with a valid hunting license or tag), plants, rocks, or fossils in wilderness is allowed only where consistent with current regulations. Photo Credit: Sendi Kalcic Southern Nevada District Office With few visitors making their way into this wilderness, opportunities for solitude abound. This impressive stand of Joshua trees makes for fascinating bird watching, and the gentle slope of the land allows for relaxed hiking. The 3-mile Joshua Tree Trail follows and old wagon road previous used by mining operations in the surrounding areas. To access this trailhead, turn north onto Wee Thump East Road from State Route 164. No warranty is made by the Bureau of Land Management as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data for individual use or aggregate use with other data. Original data were compiled from various sources. This information may not meet National Map Accuacy standards. This product was developed through digital means and may be updated without notification. Southern Nevada District Office N BLM Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness