and California barrel cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus) dot the landscape, and a Burro mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus var.

The terrain of the Big Maria Mountains within the wilderness area varies from gently sloping Alluvial fans (bajadas) to numerous rough, craggy peaks disjointed by steep canyons.

The northern boundary lies south of a major drainage known as Big Wash, and the eastern edge parallels U.S. Route 95 in California and the Colorado River.

The broad, flat plains of Rice Valley and the northwestern tip of the steep and rugged Big Maria Mountains lie within the borders of this wilderness.

A system of small dunes rising 30 to 40 feet above the surface form a long, narrow band running through the middle of the valley floor.