Castle Mountains National Monument
Park Protected desert mountain landscape with hiking opportunities
Desert mountain monument in southeastern California preserving volcanic and fault-block ranges; visited for remote hiking, wildlife and historic mining sites.
Castle Mountains National Monument is a U.S. national monument in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California, designated in 2016 to protect desert mountain landscapes and cultural resources.
The monument preserves rugged desert peaks, bajadas and washes, and contains historical mining sites and desert plant communities typical of the eastern Mojave. It is largely undeveloped and managed for conservation, backcountry recreation and resource protection rather than visitor facilities.
The monument lies in the eastern Mojave Desert between Interstate 15 and the broader Mojave National Preserve, east of the small communities in the Mojave region and accessed by local desert roads.
- Designation: Managed by the Bureau of Land Management and designated by presidential proclamation in 2016, it is intended to protect Mojave Desert ecosystems and cultural sites.
How to Get to Castle Mountains National Monument #
The monument is reached via secondary highways from Interstate 15 (south of Barstow) or from the Mojave and surrounding desert towns. Specific access points depend on which sector of the monument is being visited-consult BLM maps and notices before travel.
Tips for Visiting Castle Mountains National Monument #
- Check federal land maps carefully-the monument covers a large area of mixed jurisdictions.
- Bring extra water: desert conditions and remoteness mean long distances between reliable sources.
- Plan a backcountry route and file trip plans; cellular service is limited or non-existent in many parts of the monument.
Best Time to Visit Castle Mountains National Monument #
Best in spring and fall to avoid summer desert heat; winter nights can be cold.
Weather & Climate near Castle Mountains National Monument #
Castle Mountains National Monument's climate is classified as Cold Desert - Cold Desert climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 1°C to 36°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 12°C and lows of 1°C. Light rainfall.
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February
February is cold with highs of 15°C and lows of 2°C. Light rainfall.
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March
March is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 4°C. Light rainfall.
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April
April is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 7°C. Light rainfall.
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May
May is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 11°C. Almost no rain.
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June
June is warm with highs of 32°C and lows of 16°C. The driest month with just 3 mm.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 36°C and lows of 20°C. Light rainfall.
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August
August is warm with highs of 35°C and lows of 20°C. The wettest month with 36 mm of rain.
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September
September is mild with highs of 31°C and lows of 16°C. Light rainfall.
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October
October is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 10°C. Light rainfall.
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November
November is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 4°C. Light rainfall.
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December
December is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 1°C. Light rainfall.
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