Cedar Roughs Wilderness
The Cedar Roughs Wilderness, west of Lake Berryessa in Napa County, is a large mound of "serpentine" soil. Serpentine, California's official mineral, is a bluish-green (but sometimes reddish) rock that is not only nutrient poor, but poisonous to many plants since it naturally contains mercury and other harsh elements. Despite this, the area is bursting with plant life that has evolved to not only survive, but to thrive in the harsh soil. One of these plants is the rare Sargent cypress which can range from small shrubs kept at pygmy size by especially pure areas of serpentine soil, to handsome trees sixty feet or more in height. It is this tree-form of the cypress that convinced pioneers to erroneously call the area "Cedar" Roughs.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 6,287 acres |
| Designated | 2006, by Congress |
| Center point | 38.58° N, 122.30° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 14) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedB15 White Ranch Rx
6 mi from the center point · 30 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 8.4 miElmshaven ↗National Historic Landmark
- 1.9 miMaxwell Creek Bridge on Hardin Road ↗Locoallomi, CA
- 3.1 miNichelini Winery ↗St. Helena, CA
- 7.5 miSwartz Creek Bridge on Aetna Springs Road ↗Aetna Springs, CA
- 8 miPope Street Bridge ↗St. Helena, CA
- 8.3 miHelios Ranch ↗St. Helena, CA
- 8.6 miAtkinson House ↗Rutherford, CA
- 8.7 mi
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Cedar Roughs Wilderness?
6,287 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Cedar Roughs Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Cedar Roughs Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Cedar Roughs Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2006.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Cedar Roughs Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Cedar Roughs Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 38.575° N, 122.299° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Cedar Roughs Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest B15 White Ranch Rx at 6 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Cedar Roughs Wilderness?
The National Register has 43 listings within 15 miles, including Elmshaven and Maxwell Creek Bridge on Hardin Road.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.