Snow Mtn Wilderness
Mendocino Forest, Lake Pillsbury
North of Wine Country, east of US Hwy 101
2018 (Mendo Complex Wildfire) Ranch Fire
burnt most of this area
Located in the coastal mountain range north of Clear Lake and west of Stonyford, California; in between I-5 and US 101
On the southern half of the Mendocino National Forest.
60,076 acres
East Snow Mountain Peak – 7056′ elevation
West Snow Mountain Peak – 7038′ elevation
Lake Pillsbury – 1818′ elevation
Mendocino National Forest
Eel River
Elk Creek
Cold Creek
Anderson Creek
Corbin Creek
Sheet Iron State Game Refuge
- backpacking
- camping
- hang gliding
- horseback trails
- off roading
- paragliding
- snowboarding
- snow shoeing
Wilderness permits and campfire permits are required. Check local rangers for up to date weather conditions, road closures, parking and trail conditions.
Dirt Roads M10 and M3 are the major routes around this mountain area. Route M10 is also known as 43A on some older maps. Several 4×4 trails skirt the wilderness boundary near the tallest peaks, so you may see some OHV use in this region when hiking.
ranger stations
EAST SIDE
National Forest Office
Grindstone Ranger District
Willows, CA
530-934-3316
Stonyford Work Center
530-963-3128
WEST SIDE
Upper Lake Ranger
707-275-2361
Covelo Ranger District
707-983-6118
NFS campgrounds nearby
EAST SIDE
-
- North Fork Campground (Road# 18N03)
- South Fork Campground (Road M10)
- Fouts Campground (M10)
- Grey Pine Campground (M10)
- Mill Creek Campground (M10)
- Dixie Glade Campground (M10)
WEST SIDE
- Lower Nye Campground (Road M3)
- West Crockett Campground (M3)
- Upper Nye Camp (M3)
- Windy Point Campground (M3)
hiking trailheads
- Bloody Rock (Road M6)
- Crooked Tree (Road M3)
- North Ridge (M3)
- Windy Point (M3)
- Upper Nye (M3)
- Bear Wallow (Road# 18N06)
- Trout Creek (@ Fouts Springs)
- Dixie Glade (Road M10)
- Summit Spring (M10)
2017: a large landslide has closed the dirt road route in between Lake Pillsbury & Alder Springs, CA. Road M6 closed indefinitely.
off road routes nearby
- Bartlett Springs Road
- Stonyford Recreation Area
- Oak Flat Lake Pillsbury
12 NFS Campgrounds are located around Eastern Sierra Rock Creek Canyon. Elevations range from 7000′ at the highway, to over 10,000′ at a trailhead parking lot at the road’s end. Most of these developed campgrounds listed are only open a few months outta the year, due to winter snow closures (NOV-APRIL). On occasion, snow can still be on the roads until MAY.
Some maps may have this one listed as Little Lakes Campground, but that is just the official trailhead name.
The Tule Elk Reserve has no camping at all. Tomales Bay State Park no longer has car camping or RV camping available; hike-in or boat-in
This hidden gem is a hike-in only lake – and well worth the effort. A somewhat short hike, great ridge line views to the east, although the last half mile of this route is a doozie (moderately strenuous).
If you are fed up with city life, sitting in traffic & need to vacate your mind among the barren hills of California (if only for a weekend), then Total Escape is your place. You seek solitude, peace, maybe a mini tailgate party & BBQ on a dry lake bed, with the heavenly stars above. Imagine the warm camp fire light reflecting off the high canyon walls, your music echoing, moonlight hikes for a few miles.
or C as a backup idea.
4×4 trailhead
Motorized vehicles, such as quads, ATVs, dirt bikes, Jeeps & 4x4s must stick to designated routes signed specifically for OHV (off highway vehicle) & you won’t be finding many of those inside National Parks & State Parks, so it’s best to look for BLM or NF lands. Many regular, forest, back roads close in winter due to heavy snow pack & thus become cross country ski, snowshoe or even snowmobiling trails. The best ones can be found in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
