Chanchelulla Wilderness
Chanchelulla Peak stands at 6,399 feet, the highest point in Chanchelulla Wilderness, a steeply rugged area with slopes angling as much as 70 degrees. The southern slopes are primarily covered in dense, ankle-twisting chaparral, and the northern slopes are draped in fragrant conifers such as pine, fir, and cedar. Deer find this habitat appealing, and visitors occasionally spot black bears, fishers (a dark-furred member of the marten family), and mountain lions. Birds of prey, owls (including northern spotted owls), and numerous songbirds are residents. It's hot and dry most of the year, devoid of lakes or any accessible streams.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 8,022 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 40.47° N, 122.99° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11) |
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.
Trails
6 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 20 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Chanchelulla Divide ↗ | 4.7 | |
| Chanchelulla Gulch | 4.3 | |
| Sugarloaf Peak | 3.1 | |
| Jerk | 2.5 | |
| Potato Creek | 2.5 | |
| Upper Chanchelulla | 2.5 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedHayfork Watershed Rx
11 mi from the center point
- PrescribedFive-6 Understory Rx
20 mi from the center point
- PrescribedEw 10 Rx
20 mi from the center point
- PrescribedLower Gas Point Vmp Rx
25 mi from the center point · 254 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
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 Chanchelulla Wilderness?
8,022 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Chanchelulla Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Chanchelulla Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Chanchelulla Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Chanchelulla 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 Chanchelulla Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 40.468° N, 122.987° W. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is 19 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Chanchelulla Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Hayfork Watershed Rx at 11 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Chanchelulla Wilderness?
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (19 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
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.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- 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.