Bucks Lake Wilderness Area

Bucks Lake, California
Plumas National Forest

In the hills and canyons above Chico many wonders can be found. North Sierra Nevada mountains, medium sized recreation lake surrounded by lush forest; N of Lake Oroville and S of Lake Almanor. North Fork Feather River canyon forms the north boundary and the hiking trail area includes the impressive 6 mile long canyon wall.

The popular boating destination, Bucks Lake reservoir, is just outside the wilderness boundary. Boating, fishing, backpacking, hiking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, snowmobiling and mountain biking are just some of the outdoor recreation in the area.

23,958 acres

regional maps -

• Buck Lake Wilderness Map
• Plumas National Forest Map
• Plumas Forest Topo Atlas
• Caribou Wilderness, Ishi & Thousand Lakes

nearby towns -
Quincy, CA
Paradise, CA
Chico, CA
Oroville, CA

The historic lodge recently burnt down

View Larger Map

more info -

BucksLake.net
Bucks Lake Fire Dept/
Bucks Lake Wilderness Wiki

Southern California / San Jacinto Wilderness Area / San Jacinto Mountain

Known as the well photographed snowy mountain backdrop behind to Palm Springs, Mount San Jacinto is the second tallest peak in SoCal. San Gorgonio peak, across to the east on the other side of the valley, is the very highest mountain in this desert region. Granite Jacinto peak is located in between the mountains of Idyllwild and the low deserts of Palm Springs.

32,248 acres

Mount San Jacinto – 10,834′ elevation

San Bernardino National Forest

park access -

Palm Springs via Tram

Idyllwild CA

Pine Cove CA

The San Jacinto Wilderness is managed by 2 different agencies: The National Forest Service and California Department of Parks & Recreation. If you are camping, you must get your wilderness permit from the agency that administers the area where you plan to spend the night. Day-use permits can be obtained on the day of your trip by visiting one of the ranger stations below. Day-use permits issued by either agency are honored by both, except during the busy summer months when permits to enter the Wilderness via Devil’s Slide Trail can be obtained only from the National Forest Service.

Camping permits can be obtained in advance by mail, in person, or online w/ PDF. National Forest Service accepts requests up to 90 days in advance; Mount San Jacinto State Park accepts them up to 56 days in advance. You can also get them on the day of your trip, if any are available at that time.

USDA National Forest Service
San Jacinto Ranger District
54270 Pine Crest Ave
Idyllwild, CA 92549
951-659-2117

Mount San Jacinto State Wilderness
25905 Highway 243
Idyllwild, CA 92549
951-659-2607

regional trail maps -

• San Jacinto Wilderness USDA
• San Jacinto Trail Map (Tom Harrison)
• San Bernardino NF Map USDA
• Santa Rosa Wilderness USDA

Mount San Jacinto State Park is surrounded by San Jacinto Wilderness

More San Jacinto Wilderness Info & Links -

summitpost.org/jacinto-peak
San Jacinto Peak Wiki
USDA San Jacinto Wilderness
Mount San Jacinto State Park

Old Greyback, San Gorgonio Mountain – as seen from forest road #2N93

Southern California /San Gorgonio Wilderness Area / San Gorgonio Mountain

The tallest mountain peak in Southern California towers over the often smoggy basin of the Inland Empire, Riverside & San Bernardino. Coachella Valley lies to the southeast. Joshua Tree National Park lies due east. Old Greyback is a fitting nickname for the peak. The massive, bald, decomposed granite gravel paves the whole top layer, above treeline (altitude nearing 12,000 feet above sea level) and this impressive peak can be seen from most of the Los Angeles basin and the Palm Springs desert. The expanding view of the Pacific Ocean can be seen 70 miles to the west, but only if the skies are clear. Windy, winter days are excellent conditions for viewing, but plan your hike according as this peak could be covered in deep snow. This is a very popular backpacking weekend trip to escape from the big urban populations. San Diegans and Angelinos can easily access this location near Interstate 10.

94,702 acres

San Gorgonio Peak – 11,503′ elevation

San Bernardino National Forest

Forest & Hiking Maps -

San Gorgonio Wilderness Map (USDA)

San Gorgonio Trail Map (Tom Harrison)

San Bernardino National Forest (USDA)

San Bernardino Topo Atlas (2013 outta stock)

Gorgonio trailheads -

• Hwy 38 @ Angeles Oaks
• Hwy 38 @ Barton Flats – Jenks Lake
• Hwy 38 @ Heartbar – Fish Creek & Mission Springs
• Hwy 38 @ Fossil Falls – Momyer & Big Falls
• I-10 @ Millard Canyon – East Branch & Middle Branch
• Interstate 10 @ Cottonwood Canyon – PCT access

nearby campgrounds -

Heartbar Campground (Hwy 38)

Mission Springs Trailhead Camp

Dry Lake Campground

nearby communities & towns -

ANGELES OAKS
BIG BEAR CITY
BIG BEAR LAKE
FOREST FALLS

surrounding wilderness and forest lands -

San Bernardino National Forest
Pipes Canyon Pioneertown Preserve
San Jacinto Wilderness

National Forest & Wilderness Permits -

USDA San Bernardino NF

more San Gorgonio info & links -

summitpost.org/san-gorgonio-wilderness
San Gorgonio Wilderness Wiki
Trails of the San Gorgonio

MIssion Springs camp & corrals at trailhead. Dirt road above Heart Bar.

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Sequoia / Kings Canyon / Mitchell Peak

Jennie Lakes Wilderness is located in between two popular National Parks, via the paved back roads off Sequoia Generals Highway 198. Monarch Wilderness is north of Jennie Lakes, bordering Kings Canyon.

10,500 acres
26 miles of trail

Two lakes, Jennie Ellis Lake and Weaver Lake, set among granite outcroppings. Majority of the wWilderness is above 7,000 feet w/ red fir, lodgepole pine, and western white pine forest near treeline; abundance of spring wildflowers fill meadows. The two main lakes and Rowell Meadow are primary destinations for most backpackers wanting to camp overnight.

Sequoia National Park

Kings Canyon National Park

Monarch Wilderness

Road#14S11 – Big Meadows Road

National Forest & Wilderness Permits -

USDA Sequoia NF

More Wilderness Info & Links -

sierrawild.gov/wilderness/jennie-lakes
summitpost.org/jennie-lakes
Jennie Lakes Wilderness Wiki

Marvin Pass trailhead, 12 miles down Rd#14S11

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22,700 acres

Central Sierra Nevada Mountains/ Kaiser Pass & Kaiser Peak / Highway 168

One of the best cell phone coverage areas for any California Wilderness location, this central Sierra region is south of Yosemite National Park and known as primarily as Shaver Lake. California Hwy 168, along with Dinkey Creek Road (southward) and Kaiser Pass Road (northward) leads off in all splintered directions to secluded campsites, rivers, creeks, lakes, developed campgrounds and amazing forest scenery. Off road trails and hiking trails, everywhere back here! But it is best to have several good maps for cross reference.

This Sierra National Forest region includes all hydroelectric dams and lakes surrounding Shaver and Huntington Lake, including Florence Lake, Ward Lake, Edison Lake, Mammoth Pool, Courtright Reservoir and Wishon Reservoir.

Dusy Ershim Trail 4×4 routres near Kaiser Peak and cell phone towers. Several primitive camp sites with views on ridge. Numerous developed National Forest Campgrounds out this way on Kaiser Pass Road.

Trailheads for horseback, hiking, backpackers, mountaineers, rock climbers. Snowmobiles love this amazing route when the snow is deep; some west coast winters can be better than others.

Kaiser Wilderness is granite chuck of mountain peaks up behind Huntington Lake & China Peak ski resort,  off the paved one lane Kaiser Pass Road.

Sierra National Forest

Kaiser Pass Road, elevation  9184′

Pothole paved 25 mph, poorly maintained one lane road, 20+ miles. Kaiser Road closed in winter months.

recreation -

backpacking
camping
creeks
fishing
hiking
lakes
mountaineering
rock climbing
rivers

Sierra Topo Maps

Sierra Map Tom Harrison
Sierra NF Map USDA
Kaiser Wilderness Map
Ansel Adams Wilderness USDA
Ansel Adams Trail Map
Dinkey Lakes Wilderness USDA
Dinkey Lakes Trail Map
John Muir Trail Maps
Mono Divide High Country
NatGeo Mono / Mammoth Map

surrounding wilderness and forest lands -

Ansel Adams Wilderness
Dinkey Lakes Wilderness
Inyo National Forest
John Muir Wilderness
Kings Canyon NP
Sierra National Forest
Yosemite National Park

National Forest & Wilderness Permits -

USDA Sierra NF

More Kaiser Wilderness Info & Links -

sierrawild.gov/wilderness/kaiser
summitpost.org/kaiser-peak
Kaiser Wilderness Wiki
San Joaquin River
Don’t Tell Anyone Campsites
Mono Hot Springs

View from Kaiser Pass Trail – Huntington Lake in background